promiscuous person

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "promiscuous person" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who engages in casual sexual relationships with multiple partners. Example: "She was often labeled a promiscuous person due to her numerous relationships throughout her college years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Would we consider her to be a promiscuous person?

Vice

The site says "Chastity is curable if detected early" and features a Victor Lownes quote: "A promiscuous person is a person who is getting more sex than you are".

Huffington Post

I now believe that whether Truvada is being used by a monogamous couple, a single promiscuous person, a sex worker or anyone who chooses to take the pill, is doing the right thing for themselves.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Bankers talk about promiscuous person-to-person transactions with the gusto of free-love gurus.

The New Yorker

The majority of the street children (39.5%) said everyone is at risk for getting HIV, while 10.1% felt it was only commercial sex workers, 18.1% felt it was promiscuous persons, 9.7% felt men and 6.5% felt women were at risk of getting HIV.

Unicef

(participant E) Regarding the causes of cervical cancer, the participants said that it is important to have sex through normal conjugal relations and to avoid having sex at too young an age; they also mentioned that promiscuous sex with many persons is detrimental to disease prevention.

BMJ Open

Haitian officials often claim that residents of slums and displaced person camps are promiscuous.

The New York Times

Partly it's because pop-music journalism arose out of the intersection of early rock-and-roll magazines like Rolling Stone and Crawdaddy, when they still had an alternative-press aura, and the New Journalism, with its promiscuous use of the first person, and that gave it a confessional tone and a voice that suggested that we're all on the same side in the struggle, whatever struggle it is.

The New Yorker

You've put me in danger.' It does hurt because people think HIV is dirty or that you only get it if you're promiscuous or you're a poor person in Africa.

The Guardian

It is the infected person's irresponsible and promiscuous behaviour.

BMC Public Health

In the story "Decomposition: A Primer for Promiscuous Housewives," which is narrated in the second person singular, Quatro moves away from lyrical realism into something like surrealist allegory.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "promiscuous person", be mindful of the potential for negative connotations and consider whether a more neutral or descriptive term would be more appropriate, depending on your audience and context.

Common error

Avoid using "promiscuous person" as a means to shame or stigmatize individuals. Focus on factual descriptions of behavior rather than judgmental labels, which can perpetuate harmful stereotypes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "promiscuous person" functions as a noun phrase, where "promiscuous" modifies the noun "person". It serves to describe a person based on perceived sexual behavior or reputation, according to Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "promiscuous person" is grammatically sound but carries strong connotations that must be considered carefully. While Ludwig confirms its correctness, the term itself can be judgmental and perpetuate negative stereotypes. Reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian use the term, but writers should be aware of potential offense and explore more neutral or descriptive alternatives such as "sexually active individual" or "person with multiple partners" to ensure respectful and accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sexually active individual

Emphasizes activity rather than implying moral judgment.

person with multiple partners

A neutral and descriptive alternative focusing on the number of partners.

sexually liberated individual

Highlights freedom and choice in sexual expression.

person with a non-monogamous lifestyle

Focuses on lifestyle choice rather than judgment.

individual with a history of casual encounters

Describes past behavior without directly labeling the person.

someone who engages in casual sex

Focuses on the behavior rather than a defining characteristic.

person known for sexual liaisons

Highlights a reputation or public perception.

uncommitted individual

Suggests a lack of long-term commitment, which may or may not involve sexual activity.

player

Informal term suggesting someone who avoids emotional commitment.

woman of easy virtue

An outdated and often offensive term for a sexually active woman.

FAQs

What does "promiscuous person" mean?

The term "promiscuous person" generally refers to someone who engages in casual sexual relationships with multiple partners. However, the term can carry negative connotations and should be used carefully.

Is it okay to use the term "promiscuous person"?

While grammatically correct, using "promiscuous person" can be judgmental. Consider more neutral alternatives like "sexually active individual" or "person with multiple partners" to avoid potential offense.

What are some less judgmental synonyms for "promiscuous person"?

You can use phrases like "sexually liberated individual", "individual with a history of casual encounters", or simply describe the behavior directly rather than labeling the person.

How can I avoid stigmatizing language when discussing sexual behavior?

Focus on specific behaviors and choices rather than using broad labels like "promiscuous". Use neutral and respectful language, and consider the potential impact of your words on the people you are describing.