age of consent
Americannoun
noun
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the age at which a person is considered legally competent to consent to sexual intercourse
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the age at which a person can enter into a legally binding contract
Etymology
Origin of age of consent
First recorded in 1800–10
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The age of consent in the UAE is 18.
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2025
Norman Woods of South Dakota Family Voice Action said it doesn’t make sense to raise the age for marriage if the age of consent in South Dakota remains at 16.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 30, 2024
It has been this way since 1885 in the UK, when the age of consent was raised from 13.
From BBC • Sep. 23, 2023
Washington’s age of consent for gender-affirming surgery without approval from a parent or guardian is 18.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 21, 2023
Legitimacy of natural children can be established by subsequent marriage of the parents, and the age of consent is sixteen years.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 5 "Fleury, Claude" to "Foraker" by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
