statutory rape
noun
: sexual intercourse with a person who is below the statutory age of consent
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Due to the statute of limitations, Rose was not charged with statutory rape. 
David Wysong, The Enquirer, 8 Aug. 2022 But most parents of her youngest patients choose not to press statutory rape charges, Pierre Joseph said, because the fathers are minors as well. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 14 July 2022 Ramos was arrested without incident on one count each of statutory rape and interference with custody. Henri Hollis, ajc, 7 July 2022 If true, those actions would be statutory rape; the age of consent is 16. Laura Crimaldi, BostonGlobe.com, 20 June 2022 In particularly egregious cases, as well as instances of statutory rape, the sentence can run to life imprisonment or even the death penalty. Patrick Frater, Variety, 11 June 2022 In the Season 2 trailer, which is exclusive to Variety, Mary Jo Buttafuoco breaks down the infamous 1992 incident in which she was shot in the face by Amy Fisher, a teenager that her husband, Joey Buttafuoco, had committed statutory rape against. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 11 May 2022 On Monday, a jury found the actor guilty on three counts of forcible rape, one count of assault to commit oral copulation, two counts of statutory rape and two counts of rape by intoxication. Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2022 That was 30 years after Polanski admitted to statutory rape. Glamour, 8 Apr. 2022 See More
David Wysong, The Enquirer, 8 Aug. 2022 But most parents of her youngest patients choose not to press statutory rape charges, Pierre Joseph said, because the fathers are minors as well. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 14 July 2022 Ramos was arrested without incident on one count each of statutory rape and interference with custody. Henri Hollis, ajc, 7 July 2022 If true, those actions would be statutory rape; the age of consent is 16. Laura Crimaldi, BostonGlobe.com, 20 June 2022 In particularly egregious cases, as well as instances of statutory rape, the sentence can run to life imprisonment or even the death penalty. Patrick Frater, Variety, 11 June 2022 In the Season 2 trailer, which is exclusive to Variety, Mary Jo Buttafuoco breaks down the infamous 1992 incident in which she was shot in the face by Amy Fisher, a teenager that her husband, Joey Buttafuoco, had committed statutory rape against. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 11 May 2022 On Monday, a jury found the actor guilty on three counts of forcible rape, one count of assault to commit oral copulation, two counts of statutory rape and two counts of rape by intoxication. Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2022 That was 30 years after Polanski admitted to statutory rape. Glamour, 8 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1873, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
statutory rape
noun
stat·u·to·ry rape ˌstach-ə-ˌtōr-ē- 
: sexual intercourse with a person who is below the age of consent as defined by law
Legal Definition
statutory rape
noun
: rape consisting of sexual intercourse with a person beneath an age (as 14 years) specified by statute
Note: Many state statutes also specify a minimum age of the perpetrator or an age differential (as at least four years) between the perpetrator and the victim. Consent of the victim and belief that the victim is of the age of consent are usually considered immaterial. Statutory rape is now codified under various names, such as rape in the second degree rape in the third degree unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, and criminal sexual conduct in the second degree.