sexual harassment: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighFormal/Legal
Quick answer
What does “sexual harassment” mean?
Unwelcome or offensive sexual behaviour, comments, or advances in a professional, educational, or social context.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Unwelcome or offensive sexual behaviour, comments, or advances in a professional, educational, or social context.
A form of discrimination involving unwanted sexual attention, coercion, or intimidation that creates a hostile environment; legally defined in many jurisdictions as violating equality rights.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. UK law historically used 'sexual harassment' under the Equality Act 2010, while US law is based on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The legal definitions and case law precedents differ.
Connotations
Similar strong negative connotations in both cultures. Awareness and reporting mechanisms have evolved differently in corporate and public sector contexts.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties, especially in workplace, academic, and media discourse since the 2010s.
Grammar
How to Use “sexual harassment” in a Sentence
accuse someone of sexual harassmentbe charged with sexual harassmentexperience sexual harassmentfile a sexual harassment claimprotect employees from sexual harassmentVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sexual harassment” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The tribunal found he had sexually harassed a junior colleague.
- The policy clearly states what constitutes sexually harassing behaviour.
American English
- The company fired the manager for sexually harassing multiple employees.
- She sued the firm for allowing her to be sexually harassed.
adverb
British English
- The comments were made in a sexually harassing manner.
- He was accused of behaving sexually harassingly towards staff.
American English
- The supervisor acted in a sexually harassing way.
- The policy addresses how to respond if someone acts sexually harassingly.
adjective
British English
- The harassment claim was related to sexual harassment allegations.
- They attended mandatory sexual harassment prevention training.
American English
- The hostile work environment was due to sexual harassment conduct.
- The new law strengthened sexual harassment reporting requirements.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Mandatory training topic; grounds for disciplinary action or dismissal; part of HR policies and employee handbooks.
Academic
Subject of study in law, sociology, and gender studies; covered under university codes of conduct for staff and students.
Everyday
Discussed in news about public figures; a concern in social settings and online interactions.
Technical
Specific legal definition requiring proof of unwelcomeness, severity/pervasiveness, and impact on employment or education.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sexual harassment”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sexual harassment”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sexual harassment”
- Using it to describe mutual flirting.
- Misspelling 'harassment' with one 'r' (harasment).
- Using it as a verb ('He sexually harassmented her').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Legally, it depends on severity. A single severe incident (e.g., a sexual assault) can qualify. For less severe comments, it typically needs to be part of a persistent pattern to create a 'hostile environment'.
Yes, absolutely. Sexual harassment is defined by the nature of the unwelcome conduct, not the genders of the people involved.
Sexual harassment is a broader category of unwanted sexual conduct that can be verbal, non-verbal, or physical but does not necessarily involve physical contact or violence. Sexual assault specifically involves non-consensual physical sexual contact or behaviour.
Anyone can be a victim, regardless of gender, position, or relationship to the harasser. It often, but not always, involves a power imbalance where the harasser has some authority over the victim.
Unwelcome or offensive sexual behaviour, comments, or advances in a professional, educational, or social context.
Sexual harassment is usually formal/legal in register.
Sexual harassment: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsekʃuəl ˈhærəsmənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsekʃuəl ˈhærəsmənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A hostile work environment”
- “A pattern of behaviour”
- “To cross the line”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HARASSMENT: How Awful, Repeated Advances Scare Someone, Making Environments Negative & Tense.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEXUAL HARASSMENT IS A POLLUTANT (It contaminates the work environment); SEXUAL HARASSMENT IS A WEAPON (It is used to exert power and control).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following scenarios MOST likely constitutes sexual harassment?