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

By 1993, marital rape was a crime in all 50 states.

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

It might be tempting to suppose that modern America has wholly repudiated marital rape exemptions.

From Washington Post • May 9, 2022