sextortion: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium-Low (becoming more frequent in media and law enforcement contexts)Formal, Legal, Media, Technical (Cybercrime)
Quick answer
What does “sextortion” mean?
A specific form of blackmail where someone is threatened with the public release of sexual images or information unless they comply with demands, often for money or more sexual content.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A specific form of blackmail where someone is threatened with the public release of sexual images or information unless they comply with demands, often for money or more sexual content.
The criminal act of coercing someone through threats to expose intimate material; a portmanteau of 'sex' and 'extortion.' It is increasingly associated with cybercrime and online predation, particularly targeting teenagers and young adults.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The term is used identically in both legal and media contexts.
Connotations
Carries the same severe, criminal connotations in both varieties. The portmanteau nature is equally transparent.
Frequency
Usage frequency is comparable, rising in parallel with global awareness of online sexual crimes.
Grammar
How to Use “sextortion” in a Sentence
[perpetrator] commits sextortion against [victim][victim] is a target of sextortionto prosecute someone for sextortionVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sextortion” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Note: not standard; the verb form is rare/non-standard. The process is described as 'to commit sextortion' or 'to blackmail sexually').
American English
- (Note: not standard; the verb form is rare/non-standard. The process is described as 'to engage in sextortion' or 'to extort sexually').
adverb
British English
- (Not applicable; no standard adverbial form derived from 'sextortion').
American English
- (Not applicable; no standard adverbial form derived from 'sextortion').
adjective
British English
- The sextortion plot was uncovered by cybercrime units.
- They launched a sextortion awareness campaign.
American English
- The FBI warned of a new sextortion scheme targeting students.
- She was a victim of sextortion crimes.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in cybersecurity insurance or corporate training on digital safety.
Academic
Used in criminology, psychology, law, and media studies papers on cybercrime.
Everyday
Used in serious discussions about online safety, news reports, and warnings to young people.
Technical
Standard term in law enforcement, cybersecurity, and victim support services.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sextortion”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sextortion”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sextortion”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He sextorted me' is non-standard; prefer 'He blackmailed me using sexual images').
- Confusing it with general sexual harassment or 'sexting' without the element of blackmail.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Sexting is the consensual sending of sexual messages/images. Sextortion is the non-consensual use of such material (or the threat thereof) for blackmail.
Overwhelmingly yes in modern usage, as it leverages the internet for contact, threats, and potential distribution. However, the core concept could apply offline.
Do not pay or comply. Stop contact, save all evidence (screenshots, messages), and report it immediately to the relevant platform and law enforcement. Seek support from trusted adults or victim services.
It is not a standard verb. Dictionaries list it as a noun. In practice, phrases like 'to be sextorted' are occasionally seen in informal media, but formal writing uses 'to be a victim of sextortion' or 'to be blackmailed sexually'.
A specific form of blackmail where someone is threatened with the public release of sexual images or information unless they comply with demands, often for money or more sexual content.
Sextortion is usually formal, legal, media, technical (cybercrime) in register.
Sextortion: in British English it is pronounced /sɛksˈtɔːʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /sɛksˈtɔːrʃ(ə)n/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(none directly associated; the term itself is a modern coinage)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: SEX + exTORtion = SEXTORTION. It's extortion using sexual material.
Conceptual Metaphor
CRIME IS A TRAP (victims get 'caught' in a scam), INFORMATION IS A WEAPON (images are used to attack).
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining element of 'sextortion'?