marital rape: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Legal, Academic, Formal, Activist
Quick answer
What does “marital rape” mean?
The act of forcing one's spouse to engage in sexual intercourse without their consent.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of forcing one's spouse to engage in sexual intercourse without their consent.
A specific crime of sexual violence occurring within a marriage or intimate partnership, where consent is absent or coerced. The term acknowledges that marriage does not imply perpetual consent to sexual acts. It is a legal and social concept that has evolved to recognize spousal sexual assault.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is identical in form and legal definition. The primary differences lie in the historical timelines of criminalisation and specific statutory language. The US commonly uses 'spousal rape' as a synonym, while in the UK 'marital rape' remains the dominant term.
Connotations
Identical strong connotations of criminality, violation, and abuse of power. In both regions, it signifies a serious felony.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in legal, academic, and news media contexts. It is a low-frequency term in everyday conversation but high-frequency in specific discourse domains.
Grammar
How to Use “marital rape” in a Sentence
[The law] criminalises marital rape.[The victim] reported marital rape.[The court] recognised marital rape as a crime.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “marital rape” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No direct verb form. Use 'commit marital rape' or 'rape one's spouse'.]
American English
- [No direct verb form. Use 'commit marital rape' or 'rape one's spouse'.]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form.]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form.]
adjective
British English
- The marital rape laws were finally reformed in the 1990s.
- She provided marital rape testimony to the committee.
American English
- The state's marital rape statute has no exemptions.
- They studied marital rape conviction rates.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
[Not applicable; term is not used in standard business contexts.]
Academic
The 1991 landmark study was pivotal in shifting judicial attitudes towards the criminalisation of marital rape.
Everyday
She finally found the courage to leave after years of suffering marital rape.
Technical
The prosecution must prove the absence of consent beyond a reasonable doubt, a standard requirement in marital rape cases.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “marital rape”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “marital rape”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “marital rape”
- Misspelling as 'martial rape' (which would imply rape related to war).
- Using it as a verb: e.g., 'He marital raped her.' (Incorrect). Correct: 'He committed marital rape.' or 'He raped his spouse.'
- Capitalising the term unless it starts a sentence or is in a title.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the act is ancient, but its recognition as a specific crime is relatively recent. Legal reforms criminalising it widely began in the late 20th century.
No. While the vast majority of reported victims are women, men can also be victims of spousal rape. The law applies to all spouses.
Yes, they are synonyms in modern usage. 'Spousal rape' is often preferred in legal texts as it is gender-neutral and can apply to unmarried cohabiting partners in some jurisdictions.
It was based on outdated legal doctrines like coverture, where a wife's legal identity was subsumed by her husband's, and the concept of implied irrevocable consent to sex within marriage.
The act of forcing one's spouse to engage in sexual intercourse without their consent.
Marital rape is usually legal, academic, formal, activist in register.
Marital rape: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmær.ɪ.təl reɪp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmer.ə.t̬əl reɪp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[no common idioms for this specific term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MARITAL RAPE: MARRIAGE does NOT grant a RAPE licence.
Conceptual Metaphor
MARRIAGE IS NOT A CONTRACT FOR SEXUAL OWNERSHIP. The term itself deconstructs the archaic metaphor of marriage as a property transfer granting sexual rights.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary semantic function of the word 'marital' in the term 'marital rape'?