age of consent

noun phrase

: the age at which one is legally competent to give consent especially to marriage or to sexual intercourse

Examples of age of consent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Maryland’s age of consent is 16, though with some exceptions. —Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun, 4 Nov. 2024

One of his accusers was younger than 16, the age of consent in Nevada, when the abuse began, according to the indictment. —CBS News, 31 Oct. 2024

The age of consent in California is 18, and given how male creators taking advantage of younger female creators isn’t exactly uncommon, the accusation spread throughout TikTok and Reddit, where fans of Ko are particularly conflicted about how to move forward. —Kate Lindsay, Vulture, 8 July 2024

Most of the largest dating apps, including Grindr, Tinder, Hinge and OK Cupid, require users to be at least 18, though the age of consent in Michigan is 16. —Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 9 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1504, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

age of consent

noun

age of con·​sent -kən-ˈsent 

: the age at which one is legally competent to give consent especially to marriage or to sexual intercourse

Legal Definition

age of consent

: the age at which a person is deemed competent by law to give consent especially to sexual intercourse or marriage see also statutory rape compare emancipation, legal age