gang rape: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Legal, Journalistic, Academic (when discussing criminal justice, sociology, or gender studies). Highly marked for extreme gravity.
Quick answer
What does “gang rape” mean?
A criminal act in which multiple perpetrators take part in the rape of a single victim.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A criminal act in which multiple perpetrators take part in the rape of a single victim.
A horrific act of sexual violence carried out by a group, often associated with power dynamics, collective brutality, and severe trauma. Can be used figuratively to describe an overwhelming, coordinated attack (though this is a highly sensitive metaphorical use).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Legal definitions and statutory language may vary slightly by jurisdiction, but the term itself is identical.
Connotations
Identically severe and criminal in both varieties. Associated with utmost societal condemnation.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both, appearing primarily in specific legal, news, or academic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “gang rape” in a Sentence
[Perpetrators] carried out a gang rape on [Victim].[Victim] was subjected to a gang rape by [Perpetrators].The gang rape of [Victim] occurred in [Location].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gang rape” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The court heard how the victim was gang-raped over a period of several hours.
American English
- The indictment states the defendants gang-raped the unconscious woman.
adjective
British English
- The gang-rape allegations sparked a major police investigation.
American English
- She is a counselor for gang-rape survivors.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in criminology, sociology, law, and gender studies papers to discuss the phenomenon specifically.
Everyday
Extremely rare in casual conversation due to its gravity. Used only when discussing specific, known news events with appropriate sensitivity.
Technical
A specific legal term in criminal codes and forensic reports.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gang rape”
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gang rape”
- Using it inappropriately or metaphorically in casual contexts. Misspelling as 'gang-rape' (hyphenated form is less common in modern usage).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a specific term used in criminal law in many jurisdictions to denote rape committed by multiple perpetrators acting together.
The key difference is the number of perpetrators. 'Rape' may involve one or more perpetrators, while 'gang rape' specifically and explicitly indicates multiple perpetrators participating in the same assault.
Due to its extreme gravity and association with horrific trauma, it is highly inappropriate for casual conversation. It should only be used when necessary in specific, serious contexts like news reporting, legal discussion, or academic study.
Yes, though it is often hyphenated when used as a verb (e.g., 'He was gang-raped'). It carries the same severe connotations as the noun form.
A criminal act in which multiple perpetrators take part in the rape of a single victim.
Gang rape is usually formal, legal, journalistic, academic (when discussing criminal justice, sociology, or gender studies). highly marked for extreme gravity. in register.
Gang rape: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡæŋ ˈreɪp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡæŋ ˈreɪp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the word 'gang' (a group) combined with 'rape' (a severe sexual assault). The term explicitly denotes the multiple-perpetrator nature of the crime.
Conceptual Metaphor
RARELY and sensitively used metaphorically: "The hostile takeover was a corporate gang rape of the smaller company." (Note: This is highly controversial and offensive if used lightly.)
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'gang rape' MOST appropriately used?