French word

célibat

Pronunciation

IPA/seliba/

Meaning

  • masculine nounbeing single

Example

Le célibat ne le dérange pas.

Being single doesn't bother him.

Illustration for célibat (being single)

More examples

Après son divorce, elle assume le célibat choisi.

After her divorce, she accepts celibacy by choice.

Core concept

A life without a spouse, whether chosen freely or shaped by circumstance.

Common phrases

  • le célibat choisi

    celibacy by choice

  • le célibat forcé

    celibacy against one's will

Similar words

célibataire: A person who is not married.
mariage: The act of marrying or the state of being married.

Definition in French

Désigne l'absence de mariage chez une personne, volontaire ou subie.

Word origin

Célibat comes from Latin caelibatus, meaning an unmarried state, formed from caelebs, meaning unmarried.

Usage tips

  • Célibat is a masculine noun, so the usual article is le, as in le célibat.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word