criminal conversation: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / ObsoleteLegal / Archaic / Formal
Quick answer
What does “criminal conversation” mean?
An archaic legal term for adultery, particularly used in tort law to denote a claim by a husband against his wife's lover.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An archaic legal term for adultery, particularly used in tort law to denote a claim by a husband against his wife's lover.
Historically, a civil action for damages brought by a husband for the loss of his wife's consortium and affection due to adultery. The term is now largely obsolete but remains in historical legal texts and literature.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term and cause of action were abolished earlier in the UK (1857) than in many US states (where it persisted into the 20th century). It is now equally obsolete in both.
Connotations
Connotes historical legal procedure, often used in period novels or legal history. Can have a slightly ironic or euphemistic tone in modern use.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary use, encountered almost exclusively in historical or academic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “criminal conversation” in a Sentence
[Husband] brought an action for criminal conversation against [lover].The court dismissed the claim for criminal conversation.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “criminal conversation” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The husband sought to criminal-converse the co-respondent. (archaic/rare)
American English
- (No standard verb form exists in modern usage.)
adverb
British English
- (Not used adverbially.)
American English
- (Not used adverbially.)
adjective
British English
- The criminal conversation case was a scandal in the papers.
American English
- The criminal conversation tort was finally repealed in that state.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in legal history, history of marriage law, and literary analysis of period works.
Everyday
Not used. Would likely be misunderstood.
Technical
Used precisely in historical legal discourse and academic papers on tort law evolution.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “criminal conversation”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “criminal conversation”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “criminal conversation”
- Using it to mean 'illegal discussion' or 'talk about crime'.
- Assuming it is a modern, active legal concept.
- Misspelling as 'criminal conversion'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an obsolete cause of action abolished in the UK in 1857 and subsequently in all US states, though some related 'heart balm' statutes persisted longer.
It uses an archaic meaning of 'conversation' referring to sexual intercourse or intimate cohabitation, derived from Latin 'conversari' (to live with, keep company with).
Historically, no. The action was only available to a husband, reflecting the patriarchal legal norms of the time where a wife was considered the husband's property.
Primarily in historical legal documents, academic writing on legal history, and literature from the 18th and 19th centuries (e.g., novels by Henry Fielding or Anthony Trollope).
An archaic legal term for adultery, particularly used in tort law to denote a claim by a husband against his wife's lover.
Criminal conversation is usually legal / archaic / formal in register.
Criminal conversation: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkrɪm.ɪ.nəl ˌkɒn.vəˈseɪ.ʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkrɪm.ə.nəl ˌkɑːn.vɚˈseɪ.ʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated with this specific phrase.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CRIMINAL' (a wrong) + 'CONVERSATION' (old meaning: intimate relations) = an old-fashioned lawsuit for adultery.
Conceptual Metaphor
ADULTERY IS A CIVIL CRIME (conceptualizing a personal betrayal as a compensable legal injury).
Practice
Quiz
What does the term 'criminal conversation' specifically refer to?