marital rape

American  

[mar-i-tl reyp] / ˈmær ɪ tl ˌreɪp /

noun

1. sexual assault perpetrated by someone who is the spouse or long-term domestic partner of the person they assault.

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Etymology

Origin of marital rape

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

In France, as in most other countries, marital rape is now enshrined in law, where prior to 1990 men could argue that marriage implied consent.

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026

She lobbied legislatures, delivered speeches around the country and frequently appeared in the media, including on an episode of “The Phil Donahue Show” devoted to the topic of marital rape.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026

And last Wednesday in India, the Delhi High Court issued a split verdict in the case challenging the country’s marital rape exception.

From New York Times • May 19, 2022

All the way up to the 1990s, Hale's views on rape, particularly marital rape, were commonly cited in English and American jurisprudence.

From Salon • May 11, 2022

A high court in Delhi will decide whether to eliminate the marital rape exemption from the country’s rape laws, which were reformed in the aftermath of a brutal gang rape and murder in 2012.

From Washington Post • Jan. 28, 2022