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

And it’s nonconsensual generative AI — when you train your model and don’t ask permission.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 7, 2024

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

The results suggest that for now, at least, nightmarish scenarios of nonconsensual mind-reading remain remote.

From Salon • Jan. 18, 2024