A person who cheats on their married or committed partner by engaging in a romantic or sexual relationship with someone else.
From Old French 'adultere,' from Latin 'adulterare' (to corrupt or debase). The root combines 'ad-' (to) and 'alterare' (to alter/change).
Adultery was historically one of the few crimes that could get you executed, which is why it appears so dramatically in literature and art—societies cared obsessively about proving parentage before DNA testing.
Historically applied asymmetrically: women were severely condemned for infidelity while men faced lighter social sanction. Biblical and legal traditions enforced this double standard.
Use gender-neutral 'unfaithful partner' or specify the person without gendering the morality.
["unfaithful partner","person who committed infidelity","breach of fidelity"]
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