child abuse

American  

noun

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

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child abuse British  

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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Etymology

Origin of child abuse

First recorded in 1970–75

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

child abuse

When Hochman took office, he put McKinney in charge of specialized prosecutions, giving him oversight of a wide range of cases, including cop killings, juvenile crimes, gang homicides and child abuse.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026

If you or someone you know have been affected by child abuse, you can find more details of help and support at the BBC Action Line.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

Advocates have begun passing new laws replacing anonymous reporting to child abuse hotlines with confidential reporting.

From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026

Although Hatami understands the reasoning behind SB 1437, he believes the law should be amended to exempt child abuse cases.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 31, 2026

In fact, nationwide, most women on death row are awaiting execution for a family crime involving an allegation of child abuse or domestic violence involving a male partner.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

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