celibate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an unmarried person who has taken a religious vow of chastity
  2. adjective satellite abstaining from sexual intercourse
    continent.
    • celibate priests

WordNet

Cel"i*bate noun
Etymology
L. aelibatus, fr. caelebs unmarried, single.
Definitions
  1. Celibate state; celibacy. Obs.
    He . . . preferreth holy celibate before the estate of marrige. Jer. Taylor.
  2. One who is unmarried, esp. a bachelor, or one bound by vows not to marry.
Cel"i*bate adjective
Definitions
  1. Unmarried; single; as, a celibate state.

Webster 1913