Licentious
adjective /laɪˈsɛn.ʃəs/ — Sexually immoral; disregarding accepted rules or conventions
Definition
Sexually promiscuous or morally unrestrained — disregarding accepted conventions, especially regarding sexual behaviour. Licentious implies the deliberate taking of licence beyond what convention permits.
Beyond the definition
Licentious is the word for freedom taken past the point of permission — the life lived outside the rules, particularly regarding sexuality. Its root 'licence' reminds us that licentiousness is not freedom but excess.
Origin & history
Latin: licentia (freedom, licence). The same root as 'licence' — what is permitted. Licentious takes the permitted too far: more liberty than the rules intended, more freedom than convention can absorb.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She described the court of Charles II as licentious — which was accurate, by most accounts.
Licentious is a useful word for historians describing eras of moral relaxation.
The difference between free and licentious is often in the telling.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Licentious” when the meaning fits your context: Sexually promiscuous or morally unrestrained — disregarding accepted conventions, especially regarding sexual behaviour. Licentious implies the deliberate taking of licence beyond what convention permits.
Synonyms
debauched, dissolute, promiscuous, unrestrained
Antonyms
moral, restrained, virtuous
Related words
Licentious vs debauchery
Licentious describes a character flaw regarding moral boundaries. Debauchery describes the act of engaging in excessive, indulgent behavior.
Compare this word
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
Taking Excessive Liberties
Two adults in a room where one stands tall and points, excluding the other.
The dominant adult takes the liberty of excluding the other, showing a lack of moral or behavioral restraint. Licentiousness is the disregard for convention to satisfy one's own desires, represented here by the blatant use of power to isolate a partner.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Licentious" mean?
Licentious is adjective meaning: Sexually immoral; disregarding accepted rules or conventions. Sexually promiscuous or morally unrestrained — disregarding accepted conventions, especially regarding sexual behaviour. Licentious implies the deliberate taking of licence beyond what convention permits.
Where does the word "Licentious" come from?
Latin: licentia (freedom, licence). The same root as 'licence' — what is permitted. Licentious takes the permitted too far: more liberty than the rules intended, more freedom than convention can absorb.