# meretricious

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˌmɛɹɪˈtɹɪʃəs/

## Definitions
1. Tastelessly gaudy; superficially attractive but having in reality no value or substance; falsely alluring.
2. Involving unlawful sexual connection or lack of consent by at least one party (said of a romantic relationship).
3. Of, or relating to prostitutes or prostitution.

## Etymology
From Latin meretrīcius, from meretrīx (“harlot, prostitute”), from mereō (“earn, deserve, merit”) (English merit) + -trīx (“(female agent)”) (English -trix).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-09-03.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/meretricious