French word

adultère

Pronunciation

IPA/adyltɛʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounadultery

Example

Il a été accusé d'adultère par sa femme.

He was accused of adultery by his wife.

Illustration for adultère (adultery)

More examples

Un soupçon d'adultère a brisé la confiance du couple.

A suspicion of adultery shattered the couple's trust.

Core concept

A sexual relationship that crosses a marriage's boundary of fidelity.

Common phrases

  • soupçon d'adultère

    suspicion of adultery

  • affaire d'adultère

    adultery case

Similar words

infidélité: Betrayal of a spouse or partner through a sexual relationship.
liaison: A romantic or sexual involvement with someone other than one's partner.
aventure: A temporary sexual involvement lasting only a short time.

Definition in French

Fait d'avoir des relations sexuelles en dehors du mariage, rompant la fidélité conjugale.

Word origin

French adultère descends from Latin adulterium, related to adulterare, meaning 'to corrupt or violate', through Old French.

Usage tips

  • Adultère is a masculine noun, so the phrase is un adultère regardless of the gender of the people involved.

Other meanings

  • infidelitynoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word