Libertine
noun /ˈlɪbətiːn/ — A person who lives outside moral or sexual convention.
Definition
A person who freely indulges in sensual pleasures without moral restraints; someone who acts according to their own desires without regard for conventional morality — especially in sexual matters.
Beyond the definition
The libertine is not simply promiscuous but philosophically committed to freedom from moral restraint — someone for whom pleasure is a principle, not merely a practice. The tradition runs from Ancient Rome through the Marquis de Sade and Byron: figures who pursued experience as a form of knowledge.
Origin & history
From Latin libertinus (a freed slave), from libertus (one who has been freed). The original libertine was a person freed from slavery; the meaning shifted to moral freedom from constraint in the 16th century.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
He had a libertine reputation that preceded him into every room.
The libertine philosophy holds that pleasure is a form of wisdom — that experience denied is knowledge withheld.
In his forties, the libertine discovered that freedom from constraint and freedom for something were not the same thing.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Libertine” when the meaning fits your context: A person who freely indulges in sensual pleasures without moral restraints; someone who acts according to their own desires without regard for conventional morality — especially in sexual matters.
Synonyms
sensualist, hedonist, free spirit, rake
Antonyms
ascetic, puritan, prude
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Person Enjoying Rich Food Alone
A person stands in a kitchen, holding bread dipped in a rich sauce, appearing completely absorbed by the act of sensory enjoyment.
Libertine refers to the pursuit of sensual pleasure unrestrained by convention. This scene focuses on the individual's absorption in sensory indulgence, showing how they prioritize their own immediate gratification over external expectations.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Libertine" mean?
Libertine is noun meaning: A person who lives outside moral or sexual convention.. A person who freely indulges in sensual pleasures without moral restraints; someone who acts according to their own desires without regard for conventional morality — especially in sexual matters.
Where does the word "Libertine" come from?
From Latin libertinus (a freed slave), from libertus (one who has been freed). The original libertine was a person freed from slavery; the meaning shifted to moral freedom from constraint in the 16th century.