age of consent
Americannoun
noun
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the age at which a person is considered legally competent to consent to sexual intercourse
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the age at which a person can enter into a legally binding contract
Etymology
Origin of age of consent
First recorded in 1800–10
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He urges Sir Keir to "rather urgently" consider a smartphone ban in schools and a "digital age of consent", similar to Australia, which has passed a law banning children under 16 from using social media.
From BBC ● Mar. 21, 2025
States like California and Colorado have recently lowered the age of consent for treatment to 12.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 9, 2024
However, the gap between the age of criminal responsibility and the age of consent in England and Wales is the biggest of all countries, she says.
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2023
Washington’s age of consent for gender-affirming surgery without approval from a parent or guardian is 18.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 21, 2023
She was of opinion that the age of consent ought to be raised to eighteen at least, a course for which there is much to be said.
From Regeneration by Haggard, Henry Rider
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
