adjective
promiscuous
pruh-MIS-kyoo-uhs/prəˈmɪskjuəs/
Unselective in one's associations.
He is promiscuous and has casual sex with many different partners.
Etymology
The mixing root first described people or things grouped together without order or distinction. Applied to sexual relations, that idea narrowed to having partners without restriction to one individual.
In context
but she also had a reputation in her community for being promiscuous and had a revolving door of boyfriends or so they described her as having
More examples
- The study asks participants whether they have been sexually promiscuous.
- The party's promiscuous alliances include groups with completely opposing views.
- Her promiscuous reading habits take her from poetry to car manuals.
Forms
promiscuous · more promiscuous · most promiscuous
promiscuity noun — Lack of selectivity, especially in sexual relationships.
promiscuously adverb — Without selectivity in relationships or choices.
Similar words
- indiscriminate
- Applies broadly to actions or choices made without careful judgment.
- unselective
- Lacks the common implication of having many sexual partners.