intercourse
C1Formal for the core meaning; Neutral/Scientific for sexual meaning.
Definition
Meaning
Communication or dealings between individuals or groups.
An act of sexual contact or copulation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Historically primary meaning was 'communication', but in contemporary English it is overwhelmingly understood as 'sexual intercourse' unless context clearly indicates otherwise.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Both varieties strongly associate the word with its sexual meaning. The formal/archaic sense of 'communication' is equally rare in both.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse due to its formal/technical nature. Primarily used in legal, medical, or formal academic contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have intercourse (with)engage in intercourseintercourse between [parties]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “illicit intercourse”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Extremely rare. Would likely be misunderstood.
Academic
Used in legal studies, medicine, sociology (e.g., 'commercial intercourse', 'illicit intercourse').
Everyday
Almost exclusively refers to sexual activity. Use is formal or clinical.
Technical
Standard term in legal codes (e.g., 'statutory rape is sexual intercourse with a minor') and medical literature.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A – 'intercourse' is not used as a verb in modern English.
American English
- N/A – 'intercourse' is not used as a verb in modern English.
adverb
British English
- N/A – no adverbial form.
American English
- N/A – no adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- The report detailed the intercourse laws of the period.
American English
- The statute defined intercourse-related offenses.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The doctor asked her some questions about sexual intercourse.
- The treaty was designed to facilitate commercial intercourse between the two nations.
- In Victorian novels, 'social intercourse' often simply meant polite conversation and visits.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'INTER' (between) + 'COURSE' (a path or run) → something that runs between people, which can be communication or sexual activity.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATION/SEX IS A JOURNEY (e.g., 'engage in', 'enter into intercourse').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian 'интеркурс' (which is a false friend and obsolete). The Russian word for the primary meaning is 'полово́й акт' or 'сноше́ние'. For the archaic meaning, use 'обще́ние' or 'обме́н'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'intercourse' to mean a general 'conversation' or 'meeting' in modern English will cause confusion or unintended humour.
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the word 'intercourse' LEAST likely to be misunderstood?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, in contemporary English this would sound archaic and is highly likely to be misinterpreted as referring to sex.
Yes, when used for its sexual meaning, it is formal/clinical. In its archaic 'communication' sense, it is highly formal and literary.
"Sexual intercourse" is by far the most frequent and unmarked collocation.
Very few. 'Social intercourse' and 'commercial intercourse' survive in formal academic or historical writing but are increasingly rare. In general usage, assume the sexual meaning.
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