🇺🇸
/ədˈʌltəri/
🇺🇸
/ədˈʌltəri/
🇬🇧
/ədˈʌltəri/
🇬🇧
/ədˈʌltəri/
Plural
adulteries
Adultery is voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone who is not their spouse — it's a serious breach of marital trust and commitment. For example, if a married teacher has a secret romantic relationship with a colleague, that act may legally and morally constitute adultery.
In many jurisdictions, adultery can be cited as grounds for divorce.
The novel's central conflict arises when the protagonist discovers her husband's adultery.
Historically, adultery was punished harshly under religious and civil law.
Though rarely prosecuted today, adultery remains a powerful social and emotional taboo.
His political career collapsed after evidence of adultery surfaced in the press.
adulter
Comes from the Latin noun 'adulter' (masculine) and 'adultera' (feminine), derived from 'ad-' (to, toward) + 'alter' (other), literally 'one who goes to another (in sexual relations)'. It denotes a person who violates marital fidelity. The root conveys the core idea of 'going to another' in breach of a committed bond. Examples include adultery, adulterer, adulteress, adulterous.