child abuse


noun
  1. mistreatment of a child by a parent or guardian, including neglect, beating, and sexual molestation.

Origin of child abuse

1
First recorded in 1970–75

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use child abuse in a sentence

  • Sometimes the specialists are imposed when society perceives a need to intervene, especially in cases of suspected child abuse.

British Dictionary definitions for child abuse

child abuse

noun
  1. physical, sexual, or emotional ill-treatment or neglect of a child, esp by those responsible for its welfare: See also nonaccidental injury

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