sextortion

American  

[seks-tawr-shuhn] / ˌsɛksˈtɔr ʃən /

noun

1. criminal behavior in which a perpetrator illicitly obtains sexually compromising material, such as images, and then threatens to publish it or harm the victim in other ways unless further material or a sum of money is surrendered.

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Etymology

Origin of sextortion

First recorded in 1945–50; sex ¹ ( def. ) + (ex)tortion ( def. )

Example Sentences

Plus, Iran’s leader is MIA, hantavirus cruise passengers face quarantine, and a billionaire allegedly falls victim to sextortion.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

Mark and Ros told BBC News they had a message for any young person who finds themselves a victim of sextortion.

From BBC • Nov. 17, 2024

We need lawmakers to treat the constellation of intimate privacy violations—such as stalkerware, sextortion, doxing, and nonconsensual disclosure of intimate data—as a single problem.

From Slate • Jul. 5, 2022

Microsoft, which owns Xbox and the popular game Minecraft, said it planned to release software early next year that could recognize some forms of grooming and sextortion.

From New York Times • Dec. 7, 2019

In releasing a new “National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction” in April, the Justice Department made clear that sextortion has numerous tragic consequences.

From Washington Post • May 10, 2016