sexual predator

American  

[sek-shoo-uhl pred-uh-ter, -tawr] / ˈsɛk ʃu əl ˈprɛd ə tər, -ˌtɔr /

noun

1. a person who repeatedly commits sexual assault or other sex-related crimes, often targeting a specific type of victim.

   A sexual predator has been jailed for 13 years for his involvement in a child sex-trafficking ring.

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Other Word Forms

• sexual predation
  noun

Etymology

Origin of sexual predator

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Speaking after the verdicts were announced, Det Ch Insp Emma Smith from Northumbria Police said Hall was a "callous calculating sexual predator".

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

Farrow, who lives directly across the street from a previously relocated violent sexual predator, Calvin Lynn Grassmier, attended that court hearing in Hollywood along with friends Mary Jeters, Linda Adams and Diane Swick.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 5, 2024

Some of her colleagues, she says, classify offenders in five sometimes overlapping categories: the ex-partner, the revenger of perceived wrongs, the rejected suitor, the lonely incompetent suitor and the sexual predator.

From Scientific American • Jul. 26, 2023

Mr. Andersen said his brother-in-law was not a sexual predator and objected to the idea that the new accusation could in any way lead to Lyle and Erik having their case re-examined.

From New York Times • Apr. 18, 2023

Snyder filed the lawsuit, which was filed in India, in August after MEA WorldWide published a slew of articles in July that included linking the owner to sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein.

From Washington Times • Feb. 22, 2021