whore

whore — noun

1. a woman who is paid for sexual acts — the original meaning of the word, now rega

1.nounC1
Definition

a woman who is paid for sexual acts — the original meaning of the word, now regarded as insulting and degrading in almost any use

Example

A historical novel opens with a young woman forced to be a whore in London.

historical context for literal meaning

Calling a woman in the sex trade a "whore" is deeply insulting and outdated.

register note: offensive term

Common collocations
  • work as a whore
  • forced to be a whore
  • street whore
Synonyms
  • prostitute

    the standard neutral term for someone who performs sexual acts for payment; less offensive than 'whore' but still carries stigma

  • sex worker

    the modern respectful term that emphasizes the person's profession rather than their morality

  • call girl

    a prostitute who arranges meetings by phone; implies higher status and better working conditions than a street sex worker

  • hooker

    an informal and somewhat dated slang term; less harsh than 'whore' but still not polite

Usage Note

Even when used in its literal sense of a sex worker, this word is now widely considered offensive. The preferred modern terms are 'sex worker' or 'prostitute' (though 'prostitute' itself can carry stigma). Use with caution in any context.

Common Mistakes

She works as a whore in the city.
She works as a sex worker in the city.
'whore' is offensive even when used literally; 'sex worker' is the respectful term.
The police found whores on the street.
The police found women working in the sex trade on the street.
using 'whore' to describe vulnerable people adds insult to their situation.

2. a deeply insulting label for any woman viewed as having many sexual partners, us

2.nounC1
Definition

a deeply insulting label for any woman viewed as having many sexual partners, used purely to shame or attack her

Example

The schoolboys called Madison a whore because she had dated two people in a year.

used as an insult based on relationship history

Calling a woman a whore to silence her views on relationships is verbal abuse.

Common collocations
  • call someone a whore
  • whore (as an insult)
  • treated like a whore
Synonyms
  • slut

    equally offensive term for a woman considered to have many sexual partners; the most common modern alternative

  • tramp

    an older, somewhat less harsh insult for a sexually active woman; still offensive but less common today

Usage Note

This is one of the most offensive insults that can be directed at a woman. It is used to enforce social norms about female sexuality and is never acceptable in polite conversation. Even repeating it in a quotation can cause harm.

Common Mistakes

She's a whore because she's had several boyfriends.
She has had several boyfriends, and that is her own business.
using 'whore' to judge a woman's sexual history is a harmful double standard.
I was just joking when I called her a whore.
I should not have used that word, even as a joke.
the word is deeply offensive regardless of intent.

whore — verb

Word family

  • whoring
    nounC2
  • whorish
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four terms describe someone who performs sexual acts for payment, but they differ sharply in register and connotation. 'Whore' (noun/1) is the most offensive and is now primarily used as an insult rather than a neutral descriptor. 'Prostitute' is the standard formal term but still carries social stigma; it is the word most often found in news reports and legal documents. 'Sex worker' is the modern respectful term that frames the activity as a profession rather than a moral failing — it is the preferred term in human rights and advocacy contexts. 'Hooker' is informal American slang that dates to the 19th century; it is less harsh than 'whore' but still not polite. 'Call girl' refers specifically to a higher-end sex worker who arranges meetings by phone or app, implying a level of choice and safety not associated with street-based work. Example: 'The journalist used the term sex worker in her article, avoiding the offensive word whore.' 'The police report referred to her as a prostitute, but the support group called her a sex worker.'

prostitute ↗sex workerhookercall girl

Common collocations

Nouns

  • whore (offensive term)
  • sex worker (preferred alternative)

Phrases

  • call someone a whore
  • treated like a whore

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

The word 'whore' comes from Old English 'hōre,' which meant a prostitute or an adulterous woman. This word traces back to Proto-Germanic '*hōrǭ' (one who desires), which is related to Latin 'cārus' (dear, beloved) and ultimately to the Proto-Indo-European root '*kāro-' (dear, loved). The semantic journey from 'one who is loved or desired' to 'one who sells sexual services' is unusual and reflects complex social attitudes. Cognates exist across Germanic languages — German 'Hure,' Dutch 'hoer,' Swedish 'hora' — all carrying the meaning of prostitute. The figurative verb sense (compromising principles) dates from the 16th century. Over the past century, the word has become increasingly offensive in all its uses, and modern respectful alternatives such as 'sex worker' have largely replaced it in neutral discourse.