age of consent
Americannoun
noun
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the age at which a person is considered legally competent to consent to sexual intercourse
-
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 Massachusetts is 16 years old.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
As the documentary points out, the age of consent in California is 18.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
The legal age of consent in the UK is 16.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 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
The question of child labor has now been taken in hand by the National Government—as, of course, the "age of consent" should also be—but in other respects but little progress has been made in Georgia.
From American Adventures A Second Trip 'Abroad at home' by Wallace Morgan
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.
