How Do You Spell CELIBACY?

Pronunciation: [sˈɛlɪbəsi] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "celibacy" can be a tricky one. The IPA phonetic transcription shows that it is pronounced /ˈsel.ɪ.bə.si/. This means the "c" is silent and the stress is on the second syllable. Often confused with "celerity" (swiftness), "celibacy" refers to the state of being abstinent, particularly in relation to marriage or sexual activity. While it may be difficult to spell, "celibacy" remains an important concept in religious and spiritual practices around the world.

CELIBACY Meaning and Definition

1. Celibacy refers to the state of voluntarily abstaining from sexual intercourse or any form of sexual activity. It is a deliberate choice made by individuals for various reasons, often rooted in religious, moral, or personal preferences and beliefs. Celibacy can be observed by both men and women, and it involves restraining oneself from engaging in sexual relationships, either temporarily or permanently.

   Commonly associated with religious practices, celibacy may be practiced by clergy members such as priests, monks, nuns, or other dedicated individuals fulfilling specific roles within their faith communities. It is viewed as a spiritual discipline that promotes self-control, devotion, and the redirection of sexual energy toward religious or spiritual pursuits. In such contexts, celibacy is often accompanied by vows or commitments to remain unmarried.

   However, celibacy is not limited to religious contexts and can be a personal lifestyle choice made for a variety of reasons, including personal growth, career priorities, or a desire to focus on other aspects of life instead of romantic or sexual relationships.

   While celibacy involves abstaining from sexual activities, it does not necessarily imply a lack of emotional or romantic connections with others. Celibate individuals can still form deep and meaningful relationships, allowing for love, companionship, and emotional intimacy without involving sexual interactions.

   It is important to distinguish celibacy from abstinence, as the latter generally refers to the temporary act of refraining from sexual activity without the long-term commitment associated with celibacy.

2. A single life; an unmarried condition.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for CELIBACY *

• celebacy 40%
• celebacey 20%
• celibiscy 20%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for CELIBACY

• celiacs
• celebicy
• celabacy
• selebacy
• celibacey
• celibait
• Celibacyst
• seliacy

Etymology of CELIBACY

The word "celibacy" comes from the Latin term "caelibatus", which means the state of being unmarried or single. It was derived from the Latin word "caelebs", which means "unmarried" or "alone". The term was later adopted into Late Latin and then into various Romance languages, including Old French "celebataire" and Middle English "celebacie". In English, "celibacy" came to specifically refer to the voluntary abstention from marriage and sexual relations.

Plural form of CELIBACY is CELIBACIES