sexual predator: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium to High in news/media, legal, and psychological contexts; Low in everyday conversation.Formal, legal, clinical, journalistic. Highly stigmatising and pejorative. Not used in casual conversation.
Quick answer
What does “sexual predator” mean?
A person who commits a sexual offence, typically against strangers, children, or vulnerable individuals, by using force, coercion, manipulation, or grooming.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who commits a sexual offence, typically against strangers, children, or vulnerable individuals, by using force, coercion, manipulation, or grooming.
While the core meaning refers to individuals who commit specific crimes, the term is often used more broadly in media and legal contexts to describe someone with a persistent pattern of seeking sexual contact through exploitative, manipulative, or coercive means, often targeting those less powerful than themselves.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used and understood identically in both varieties. Legal classifications of the underlying crimes may differ (e.g., specific statute names).
Connotations
Identical—strongly negative, criminal, and dangerous.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in media and legal discourse in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “sexual predator” in a Sentence
[NP] was labelled a sexual predator.[NP] was identified as a sexual predator.[NP] has a history as a sexual predator.Police are hunting a sexual predator [PP in the area].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sexual predator” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was accused of predating on vulnerable young people.
- The man had a history of predating sexually on teenagers.
American English
- He was accused of preying on vulnerable young people.
- The man had a history of sexually preying on teenagers.
adverb
British English
- He acted predatorily towards his subordinates.
American English
- He acted in a predatory manner towards his subordinates.
adjective
British English
- He exhibited predatory behaviour.
- The report detailed his predatory sexual conduct.
American English
- He exhibited predatory behavior.
- The report detailed his predatory sexual conduct.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare; only in HR/security contexts regarding employee misconduct.
Academic
Used in criminology, psychology, sociology, and legal studies papers.
Everyday
Very rare in casual talk; used in serious discussions about crime and safety.
Technical
Used in forensic psychology, law enforcement reports, and sex offender registries.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sexual predator”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sexual predator”
- Using it as a casual insult rather than a serious accusation. Using 'sexual predator' to describe a person who is merely promiscuous or unfaithful (this is incorrect and dilutes the term's serious meaning).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not precisely. It is a descriptive label used in legal, media, and public discourse. Specific legal charges would be things like 'rape', 'sexual assault', or 'indecency with a minor'. 'Sexual predator' laws in the US often refer to a subset of sex offenders subject to stricter registration and monitoring.
Yes, the term is not gender-specific. While statistically most identified perpetrators are male, women can also commit sexual offences that fit the predatory pattern, such as sexual abuse of children or students.
All sexual predators are sex offenders, but not all sex offenders are considered predators. 'Sexual predator' implies a more habitual, dangerous, or pattern-based predatory behaviour, often involving stalking, grooming, or targeting strangers/vulnerable people.
Because it employs the powerful metaphor of predation, which dehumanises the offender (comparing them to a wild animal) and strongly emphasises the calculated harm, power imbalance, and victimisation involved. It carries extreme social stigma.
A person who commits a sexual offence, typically against strangers, children, or vulnerable individuals, by using force, coercion, manipulation, or grooming.
Sexual predator is usually formal, legal, clinical, journalistic. highly stigmatising and pejorative. not used in casual conversation. in register.
Sexual predator: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɛkʃuəl ˈprɛdətə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɛkʃuəl ˈprɛdətər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms directly use this term. It is itself a metaphorical compound.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PREDATOR in nature (like a lion) that hunts its PREY. A SEXUAL predator hunts for sexual contact through force or manipulation.
Conceptual Metaphor
CRIMINAL SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR IS PREDATION / THE OFFENDER IS A PREDATOR / THE VICTIM IS PREY.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'sexual predator' MOST appropriately used?