CultureSeptember 7, 2026

celibacy

SEL-uh-buh-see

Definition

The state of voluntarily refraining from marriage and sexual relations, typically as a requirement or commitment associated with religious vows.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'caelibatus,' meaning 'single life,' which comes from 'caelebs,' meaning 'unmarried.' It entered English in the 17th century to describe the state of being unmarried, particularly in a religious context.

In the news

The article mentions the 'abolition of mandatory clerical celibacy' as part of the controversial resolutions being discussed by the German Church, which challenge traditional universal Catholic teachings.

Traversing 5 towns: Lessons of a Sunday pilgrimage

Read the full article ↗

Realnews Magazine

Related words

Learn words like this every day

Meet new words every morning.

Newspoken pulls carefully chosen words from the day’s news — with clear definitions, context, and light review that makes them stick. Get it on your phone.