date rape

American  

[deyt reyp] / ˈdeɪt ˌreɪp /

noun

1. sexual assault perpetrated by someone who has been in a social situation with the person they assault, such as on a date.

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date rape British  

noun

1. the act or an instance of a man raping a woman while they are on a date together

2. an act of sexual intercourse regarded as tantamount to rape, esp if the woman was encouraged to drink excessively or was subjected to undue pressure

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date rape Idioms  

1. Sexual intercourse forced by the victim's social escort. For example, Date rape is much more common on college campuses than was previously realized. This term originated in the 1980s, when awareness of the phenomenon increased exponentially.

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Etymology

Origin of date rape

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

date rape

Ms. would become known for spirited, frank coverage of subjects that were typically only spoken about quietly: workplace and domestic inequalities, domestic violence, homosexuality, racism, date rape.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

Ms. Rao had also come under scrutiny over her views and writings on date rape and abortion.

From New York Times ● Mar. 13, 2019

While the show addressed topics such as AIDS, date rape, learning disabilities and teenage pregnancy, the principal draw for many viewers was its handsome male leads.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 4, 2019

According to the Washington Post, more than a dozen people in T-shirts that quoted Rao’s college writing on date rape lined up outside the committee room during the hearing to protest her nomination.

From Slate ● Feb. 5, 2019

Two bartenders in Washington, D.C., have teamed up to create the prototype for a product meant to combat date rape called the “DrinkLock.”

From Washington Times ● Sep. 22, 2014