Definition

1. Noun:
   • Voluntary sexual intercourse between two unmarried persons: The act of consensual sexual relations between individuals who are not married to each other.
   • Extramarital sex that interferes with marriage relations: Historically and in some religious or legal contexts, it can refer to illicit sexual intercourse, especially when it willfully disrupts a marriage, often used synonymously with adultery.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • In some traditional communities, fornication is considered a serious moral transgression.
  • The ancient law prohibited fornication and imposed penalties for it.

Advanced Usage

• "To commit fornication": A formal or religious phrase meaning to engage in the act of fornication.
  • The preacher spoke against those who commit fornication.

Variants and Related Words

• Fornicate (verb): To engage in fornication.
  • They were accused of fornicating.
• Fornicator (noun): A person who commits fornication.
  • The text condemned the fornicator.

Synonyms

• Illicit intercourse: Sexual relations considered unlawful or improper.
• Cohabitation (in some contexts): Living together and having a sexual relationship without being married.

Notes on Meaning

• The term is primarily used in religious, historical, or formal legal contexts. In modern everyday English, more neutral terms like "premarital sex" are commonly used to describe the same act without the inherent moral judgment often carried by "fornication."
• Its meaning can overlap with "adultery," but a key distinction is that "fornication" typically involves at least one unmarried person, whereas "adultery" specifically involves at least one married person.

Noun

1. extramarital sex that willfully and maliciously interferes with marriage relations
   • adultery is often cited as grounds for divorce
2. voluntary sexual intercourse between persons not married to each other