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 2023 reforms to Japan's sex crime laws also expanded the definition of rape and raised the age of consent from 13 to 16.
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2025
The age of consent in the UAE is 18.
From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2025
States like California and Colorado have recently lowered the age of consent for treatment to 12.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 9, 2024
Washington’s age of consent for gender-affirming surgery without approval from a parent or guardian is 18.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 21, 2023
A woman's club, the Arena, had been instrumental in obtaining the first "age of consent" legislation, but a Unitarian minister had entirely managed the Legislature.
From The History of Woman Suffrage, Volume VI by Harper, Ida Husted
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.
