Fornication or adultery? Two words that are often confused
In short
Fornication is consensual sex between two people who are not married to each other; adultery is sex between a married person and someone other than their spouse. Both words reached English around 1300 via Old French. The King James Bible lists them side by side, and English law long treated adultery more seriously, notably as a ground for divorce.
What the full article will cover
- How do dictionaries define fornication and adultery?
- Where do the two words come from?
- How does the King James Bible use them?
- How did English law treat each one?
- Do the words still matter legally in the UK?
Frequently asked questions
- Can a married person commit fornication?
- Is adultery still a ground for divorce in the UK?
- Was adultery ever a crime in England?
- Which word does the Bible use more often?
Sources
- merriam-webster.com — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fornication
- etymonline.com — https://www.etymonline.com/word/adultery
- etymonline.com — https://www.etymonline.com/word/fornication
- kingjamesbibleonline.org — https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Galatians-5-19/
- legislation.gov.uk — https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1973/18/section/1
General information, not legal or religious advice.