What does whore mean?
Whore is an English word with two related but distinct uses. Its older, literal sense is an offensive term for a prostitute. The noun is also used as a derogatory label for a woman accused or judged to be sexually promiscuous, sexually available, or lacking conventional moral standards. That extension has made the word a particularly gendered insult and has often carried an implication of contempt or sexual exploitation. The verb, now uncommon, means to work as a prostitute or, figuratively, to debase one's talents or principles for payment or advantage. In modern usage, “prostitute” or, where appropriate, “sex worker” is usually more precise and less abusive, while quotation may be necessary when discussing the word's historical or offensive force. Understanding whore therefore requires recognizing both its literal reference and the stigma attached to it. The term appears in medieval and early modern writing, survives in compounds and idioms, and has been the subject of censorship, protest, and debate over the language used to insult women.
An offensive term for a prostitute; by extension, a derogatory term for a woman regarded as sexually promiscuous, sexually available, or morally lax.
"The critic dismissed the singer as a whore, revealing more about his prejudice than about her music."
Strongly offensive, especially when used as a personal insult.
To work as a prostitute; figuratively, to debase one's abilities or principles for payment or advantage.
"The essay accuses the broadcaster of whoring his independence to sponsors."
Rare, archaic, and offensive; the figurative use is chiefly literary or rhetorical.
The standard plural is “whores,” with no change in spelling.
"The novel refers to the women only as whores."
The word has shifted from naming a trade to policing women's sexuality—and the insult is often more revealing of the speaker than of the person targeted.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of whore
The word entered Middle English from Old English hore, which was already used for a prostitute. Its further history is generally traced to Proto-Germanic *hōrō, cognate with Old Norse hóra, Dutch hoer, and German Hure. Some etymologists connect it with a Proto-Indo-European root associated with desire or lust, although that deeper relationship is less certain; later usage also developed a derogatory sense for a woman considered lewd.
Related word forms
How whore is actually used
The noun is highly offensive and generally unsuitable except when discussing prostitution, sexual exploitation, or quoted historical language. The verb is comparatively rare and is also offensive. The derogatory sense is primarily directed toward women; a man described as a whore has traditionally been characterized as effeminate, weak, or unprincipled.
Easily confused with whore
Who is an interrogative pronoun used to ask for someone's identity, whereas whore is an offensive term for a prostitute or a derogatory insult aimed at a woman.