nonconsensual

American  

[non-kuhn-sen-shoo-uhl] / ˌnɒn kənˈsɛn ʃu əl /

adjective

1. not agreed to by one or more of the parties involved.

   The crime of battery is defined in the state penal code as any unwanted and nonconsensual physical contact.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonconsensually
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of nonconsensual

First recorded in 1840–45; non- ( def. ) + consensual ( def. )

Example Sentences

"We will carefully assess these changes to make sure they effectively protect citizens in the EU," European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said in a statement, which followed sharp criticism over the nonconsensual undressed images.

From Barron's • Jan. 14, 2026

In May, Congress passed the Take It Down Act, a law that makes it a federal crime to knowingly publish nonconsensual intimate imagery of minors or adults—whether real or AI-generated.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 16, 2025

But then what to do with this photographic phantom, this nonconsensual technological transgression?

From Slate • Sep. 22, 2024

In contrast, the bill would also have permitted physicians to perform surgeries on intersex children, a procedure advocates flag as often medically unnecessary and nonconsensual.

From Salon • Jan. 6, 2024

The “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” actor addressed those allegations in a YouTube video, in which he vehemently denied having any nonconsensual relationships.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 5, 2023