molester: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowLegal, Formal, Police, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “molester” mean?
A person who sexually abuses someone, typically a child.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who sexually abuses someone, typically a child.
A person who harasses, annoys, or bothers someone persistently; one who molests.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is understood identically.
Connotations
Extremely negative and criminal in both varieties. No difference in strength.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in general discourse, but used with equal frequency in relevant legal and news contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “molester” in a Sentence
[definite article/possessive pronoun] + molester (e.g., the molester, his molester)molester + [prepositional phrase] (e.g., molester of children)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “molester” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The man was charged with molesting a minor.
- She alleged that her uncle had molested her as a child.
American English
- He was convicted of molesting children.
- The report details how the coach molested athletes for years.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The molesting behaviour was documented over several years.
- N/A
American English
- He engaged in molesting conduct with multiple victims.
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in criminology, psychology, sociology, and legal studies to refer to a specific type of offender.
Everyday
Used with extreme gravity and seriousness, primarily in news reports or discussions of crime. Not a casual term.
Technical
A specific legal classification in criminal law and sex offender registries.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “molester”
- Using it to mean a general nuisance or bully (archaic sense is obsolete).
- Misspelling as 'molestor'.
- Confusing with related verb forms (molesting/molested).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While the verb 'molest' historically meant 'to pester or harass,' the noun 'molester' in modern English is almost exclusively used for someone who commits sexual abuse, particularly against children. Using it for minor annoyance is incorrect and would be misunderstood.
A 'paedophile' (BE)/'pedophile' (AE) has a persistent sexual attraction to prepubescent children. A 'molester' is someone who commits acts of sexual abuse. Not all paedophiles act on their urges (i.e., become molesters), and not all child molesters are paedophiles (some abuse for reasons of power or opportunity). However, in common usage, 'child molester' is often used synonymously.
It can be, but it is less common. The strongest collocation is 'child molester.' For adult victims, terms like 'sexual assailant,' 'rapist,' or 'abuser' are more frequent. 'Molester' may appear in legal contexts for adult victims, but its primary association is with children.
It labels a person as a specific type of criminal who has committed one of the most socially and morally condemned acts—sexual abuse, especially of the vulnerable. It carries connotations of profound betrayal, harm, and lasting trauma.
A person who sexually abuses someone, typically a child.
Molester is usually legal, formal, police, journalistic in register.
Molester: in British English it is pronounced /məˈlestə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /məˈlestər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MOLE' + 'PESTER'. A 'molester' is like a harmful pest who pokes and bothers (in a criminal way) a vulnerable person.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE CRIMINAL IS A PREDATOR / THE VICTIM IS PREY.
Practice
Quiz
In contemporary English, the word 'molester' is most closely associated with: