Definition and pronunciation
libertine — noun: a person who rejects conventional morality, especially in sexual matters; a free-liver or pleasure-seeker. Also an adjective: morally unrestrained; free-thinking.
Pronunciation: /ˈlɪbərˌtiːn/.
Easy explanation
A libertine is someone who lives for pleasure and doesn’t follow strict rules about sex, drinking, or behavior. As an adjective, libertine describes a style or attitude that is loose about rules and tradition.
Part of speech and grammar
- Noun (countable): a libertine; libertines.
- Adjective (attributive): libertine values, libertine ethos, libertine hero.
- Word family: libertinism (noun: the philosophy/lifestyle), libertinish (rare adj.), libertinely (adv., rare).
Register and tone
Literary to formal. In modern speech it can sound old-fashioned or judgmental, though in arts/culture writing it may be neutral or even admiring.
Connection to sexuality
Yes, commonly. The word often implies sexual freedom or promiscuity (“a libertine lifestyle”), but it can also mean a broader rejection of moral or religious restraints (a philosophical freethinker), not only sex.
Common collocations
Restoration libertine, libertine hero, libertine lifestyle, libertine aristocrat, libertine literature/novel/comedy, philosophical libertine, urbane libertine, rakish libertine, libertine ethos, libertine salon
Idioms and set phrases
Not true idioms, but frequent pairings include: libertine spirit, libertine streak, libertine excess, libertine pleasure, libertine wit.
Prepositions and nuance
- libertine in [matters of sex/drink] — scope of looseness: libertine in his private life.
- libertine about [rules/morals] — attitude: libertine about convention.
- libertine of [the court/the age] — historical labeling: a libertine of the Restoration.
- as a libertine — role self-ascribed or portrayed: He wrote as a libertine.
Meaning shifts slightly with focus: with in/about, it’s the person’s stance; with of, it’s historical category.
Word comparisons
- libertine vs hedonist — hedonist seeks pleasure generally; libertine also rejects moral restraints, often with sexual overtones.
- libertine vs rake/rakehell — near-synonyms; rake is specifically a debauched man in older literature.
- libertine vs womanizer/philanderer — focus on chasing partners; libertine is broader (ethos and lifestyle).
- libertine vs playboy — modern, glamorous vibe; less philosophical.
- libertine vs libertarian — not the same: libertarian = political philosophy about limited government.
- libertine vs bon vivant/sybarite/voluptuary — pleasure-loving terms; may stress food/luxury more than sexual mores.
- libertine (adj.) vs liberal/permissive — libertine is stronger and more about personal morals than politics.
Real-life examples
- Critics called the poet a libertine for his bawdy verse and notorious social life.
- Restoration comedies often feature a charming libertine who outwits stricter characters.
- She adopts a libertine aesthetic in her art—provocative, rule-breaking, and playful.
- The biography separates his libertine reputation from his serious political writing.
Sample sentences
- He cultivated the image of a witty libertine who mocked convention.
- The novel’s libertine hero reforms in the final act.
- Reviewers praised the film’s libertine energy but warned about its excess.
- Despite the rumors, her essays show a philosophical libertine rather than a mere partygoer.
- The curator traced libertine themes from the Restoration to modern pop culture.
Synonyms
rake, debauchee, voluptuary, sybarite, hedonist, profligate, roué, womanizer, philanderer, playboy, free spirit, freethinker
Antonyms
puritan, moralist, ascetic, prude, abstemious person, disciplinarian, traditionalist
Related terms
libertinism, rake, debauchery, licentious, rakish, wanton, bawdy, bohemian, bon vivant, epicure, sybaritic, profligacy, free thought, permissiveness, decadence, Restoration comedy
Notes and etiquette
Because libertine can imply judgment (especially about sex), choose it deliberately. If you mean “politically libertarian,” use that word. When describing people, consider neutral alternatives (pleasure-seeker, bohemian) unless the historical/literary term is the point.
Sexopedia.co is an educational glossary of sexual and gender-related terms—helping you improve your English while deepening your understanding of identity, language, and self-expression.