Synonyms

sexual assault

American

[sek-shoo-uhl uh-sawlt] / ˈsɛk ʃu əl əˈsɔlt /

noun

nonconsensual touching of one person for the sexual gratification of another, including rape, fondling, molestation, or other unwanted contact with the genitals, anus, buttocks, groin, or breasts of either party.

The victim was intoxicated and incapable of giving consent, so any sex act will be treated as sexual assault.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

sexual assaults

plural

Etymology

Origin of sexual assault

First recorded in 1880–85

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.

“Nothing suggested that the project would falsely accuse Ms. Banks of covering up a sexual assault, or being indifferent to what a contestant characterizes as a traumatic experience.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026

Vaughan put it to her: "This has nothing to do with you and sexual assault."

From BBC • May 29, 2026

That changed after then-Northern California Rep. Eric Swalwell, who had been the front-running Democrat in the race, withdrew from the campaign and resigned from Congress after he was accused of sexual assault and misconduct.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

A number of states, including California, now bar employers from using nondisclosure agreements to silence workers speaking out about workplace misconduct, including sexual assault, harassment and labor and safety violations.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

The measure would replace the current system of adjudicating sexual assault by taking the cases outside a victim’s chain of command.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023