Also the term used for a male or female companion hired for their time only. However what happens during that time is up to the escort and the client. It is a very thin line of distinction between prostitution and escorting, however the classic definition of a prostitute is someone who offers sex for money. An escort is defined as someone who offers companionship and time for money.

There are innumerable advertisements for escorts in the back of any metropolitan U.S. paper. This in itself is perhaps a wonderful exposure of North American social and sexual ideals. Prostitution is indeed illegal but there are none-the-less overflowing "erotic services" ads in the back of any city's newspaper. As long as it is quiet and discrete then Mrs Haggard, Mrs Swagert, Mrs Foley, Mrs Spitzer, Mrs Larry Craig, and all the rest of the public here will look the other way. At least until it involves the media.