rape

¹ American  

[reyp] / reɪp /

noun

1. unlawful sexual intercourse or any other sexual penetration of the vagina, anus, or mouth of another person, with or without force, by a sex organ, other body part, or foreign object, without the consent of the person subjected to such penetration.

2. any sexual activity, with or without penetration, that takes place without the consent of one of the people involved.

3. statutory rape.

4. an act of plunder, violent seizure, or abuse; despoliation; violation.

   the rape of the countryside.

5. Archaic. the act of seizing and carrying off by force.

   The rape of the Sabine women is the subject of several classical sculptures and paintings that depict Roman soldiers kidnapping unwilling brides.

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verb (used with object)

raped, raping

1. to commit the crime of rape against (a person).

2. to plunder; despoil.

   The logging operation raped a wide tract of forest without regard for the environmental impact of their harvesting practices.

3. Informal: Offensive. to totally defeat, wreck, dominate, or decimate.

4. Archaic. to seize, take, or carry off by force.

verb (used without object)

raped, raping

1. to commit rape.

rape ² American  

[reyp] / reɪp /

noun

1. rapeseed.

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rape ³ American  

[reyp] / reɪp /

noun

1. the residue of grapes, after the juice has been extracted, used as a filter in making vinegar.

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rape ¹ British  

/ reɪp /

noun

1. the offence of forcing a person, esp a woman, to submit to sexual intercourse against that person's will See also statutory rape

2. the act of despoiling a country in warfare; rapine

3. any violation or abuse

   the rape of justice

4. archaic abduction

   the rape of the Sabine women

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verb

1. to commit rape upon (a person)

2. (also intr) to plunder or despoil (a place) in war

3. archaic to carry off by force; abduct

rape ² British  

/ reɪp /

noun

1. Also called: colza.   cole.  a Eurasian plant, Brassica napus , that has bright yellow flowers and is cultivated for its seeds, which yield a useful oil, and as a fodder plant: family Brassicaceae (crucifers)

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rape ³ British  

/ reɪp /

noun

1. (often plural) the skins and stalks of grapes left after wine-making: used in making vinegar

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Sensitive Note

There are many violent metaphors to describe a dramatic victory or defeat: The home team slaughtered the competition on Saturday. It was a bloodbath! They absolutely massacred the visiting team. The defense was decimated. Our guys killed it! This type of hyperbole is sometimes tasteless, but it is not generally considered to be offensive. However, rape is a crime with survivors in every stratum of every society. Using rape as a metaphor for some other struggle trivializes the trauma of sexual assault that many have suffered. Such figurative usage is beyond insensitive and should be avoided.

Other Word Forms

• rapable adjective
• rapeable adjective
• raper noun
• rapist noun

Etymology

Origin of rape¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; (for the verb) Middle English rapen, from Anglo-French raper, from Latin rapere “to seize, carry off by force, plunder”; (for the noun) Middle English, from Anglo-French ra(a)p(e), derivative of raper

Origin of rape²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French or directly from Latin rāpum (neuter), rāpa (feminine) “turnip”; cognate with Greek rhápys

Origin of rape³

First recorded in 1590–1600; from French râpe, Old French, Middle French raspe “grape stalks,” from Germanic; compare Old High German raspōn “to scrape,” Medieval Latin raspa “bunch of grapes”

Explanation

Rape is a word for sexual assault. This is one of the worst crimes there is. Rape can also mean to plunder or strip something of resources. There are few words more powerful than rape, which is a horrifying crime. To rape someone is to force them to have sex with you. This word isn't an obscenity, but its meaning is. There are also some metaphorical meanings, like if a country is said to rape the land of a resource, like oil. Some countries might rape their rain forests by cutting them down. However it's used, rape is a violent and ugly word.

Example Sentences

Mr. Swalwell has denied the accusations of rape.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Delta state police have rejected claims circulating online that the Alue-Do festival in Ozoro was a "rape festival".

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

A man who was among 10 people falsely accused of rape by the same woman said her lies will affect him for the rest of his life.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

In France, rape survivor Gisele Pelicot led a women's rights march in Paris, one of several demonstrations in French cities.

From Barron's • Mar. 8, 2026

Today the FBI’s juvenile violent-crime index, which measures arrests for murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, is lower than it was in 1980, and that’s true across racial lines.

From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater

Related Words

• abuse
• assault
• maltreatment
• molestation
• violation