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sexual abuse

[ sek-shoo-uhl uh-byoos ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

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.

sexual abuse

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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of sexual abuse¹

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

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

In contrast to the Conservatives, Labour were "implementing existing recommendations" of the 2022 national inquiry into child sexual abuse and "providing for local inquiries", he said.

From

The vote is the culmination of years of fighting by victims, who argued that no one had paid the price for the rampant sexual abuse they said they suffered in county custody.

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Mark Connor KC, prosecuting, said Burrows had been convicted of the "horrific sexual abuse of 24 young boys, some of whom were particularly vulnerable", while the defendant was in a "position of power and trust."

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A government spokesperson said child sexual abuse material was illegal and that there were plans for further offences for creating, possessing or distributing AI tools designed to create such content.

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"She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking," a statement from her family reads.

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Related Words

sexual sexual assault

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