/ ˈselɪbət; NAmE / adjective , noun
■ adjective
1.
not married and not having sex, especially for religious reasons :
celibate priests
2.
not having sex :
I've been celibate for the past six months.
► celi·bacy / ˈselɪbəsi; NAmE / noun [ U ]:
a vow of celibacy
■ noun
( formal ) a person who has chosen not to marry; a person who never has sex
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WORD ORIGIN
early 19th cent. (earlier (mid 17th cent.) as celibacy ): from French célibat or Latin caelibatus unmarried state + -ate .