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

• 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

On Sept. 9, his legal team issued a statement asserting that he did not leak or distribute the material and is himself a victim of nonconsensual exposure.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 18, 2025

Annalise, in Southern California, still has not been able to find a specialist within her insurance network who can help her treat some of the symptoms that the nonconsensual surgery left her with.

From Salon • Feb. 12, 2025

You will spend hours on the phone with your health insurance company, with doctors’ offices, and with pharmacies, and sometimes all three at once, after you’ve perfected the art of the nonconsensual conference call.

From Slate • Jan. 28, 2024