A prostitute is a person, either male or female, who uses sex as a means of supporting themselves financially, either working alone or with others headed by a master or mistress, known respectively as either a pimp or a madam. This practice has also occurred in certain religions that use sex as a form of worship, with its participants referred to as temple or shrine prostitutes. However, it is condemned in Christianity as the religion sees it as sexual immorality.

In the Bible, Rahab was a former prostitute who lived in Jericho who helped protect the Israelites spies and sent them away in peace while preserving her family during the Israelite sacking of Jericho. Tradition usually paints Mary Magdalene, a follower of Jesus Christ, as a former prostitute, although according to Scripture she was actually a demoniac who had seven demons cast out of her.

In the Left Behind series, there is at least one known person, Carmela, who worked as a prostitute for drugs. She through the help of Shaniqua came to the saving faith of Jesus Christ and became a believer.