sexual abuse

American  

[sek-shoo-uhl uh-byoos] / ˈsɛk ʃu əl əˈbjus /

noun

1. nonconsensual touching of a person for one’s own sexual gratification or for the sexual gratification of someone else, especially when the nonconsenting party is a child.

   When children experience sexual abuse, it is rarely a stranger perpetrating the crime, but more commonly an authority figure or other adult they know.

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sexual abuse Cultural  

1. Unwanted sexual activity forced on a person by another through coercion or threats.

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Etymology

Origin of sexual abuse

First recorded in 1875–80 in the sense “masturbation”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sexual abuse

"If they have a good algorithm to track child sexual abuse material, then obviously more alerts will be generated."

From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026

The deluge of claims came after the state changed the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse, giving victims a new window to sue.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

Pope Leo XIV will give an unprecedented address on Monday to the Spanish parliament and is set to meet with victims of sexual abuse by clergy.

From Barron's ● Jun. 8, 2026

Trump has asked the Supreme Court to hear the sexual abuse case and has said he would do the same with the defamation matter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

It didn't appear that emotional trauma or abuse was bedizened as sexual abuse in a display to get others to empathize with her tattered past.

From Tokyo to Tijuana: Gabriele Departing America by Sills, Steven (Steven David Justin)

Related Words

• exploitation
• impropriety
• intimidation
• victimization