indecent exposure

noun

: intentional exposure of part of one's body (such as the genitals) in a place where such exposure is likely to be an offense against the generally accepted standards of decency

Examples of indecent exposure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The 31-year-old man, a Detroit resident, was taken into custody on a charge of indecent exposure — but this alleged incident was only the latest in a long line, investigators learned. Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2024 Paul Reubens as Pee-wee Herman | Credit: Getty The star's career was briefly derailed after he was arrested in 1991 for indecent exposure at an adult theater in Sarasota, Fla. Jessica Wang, EW.com, 31 July 2023 The star's career was briefly derailed after he was arrested in 1991 for indecent exposure at an adult theater in Sarasota, Fla. Jessica Wang, EW.com, 31 July 2023 Bland, 33, is charged with felony false imprisonment along with misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure and annoying or molesting minors. Cameron MacDonald, The Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2024 He also is charged with indecent exposure and unlawful imprisonment in that case. Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 14 Aug. 2023 The Pee-wee Herman character was retired for years after Reubens was arrested in 1991 for indecent exposure at an adult movie theater. Conor Murray, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023 Officers were alerted around 7 p.m. to a man captured on surveillance cameras who fit the description of a recent indecent exposure suspect in the Groveton area, the Fairfax County Police Department said. Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 1 Oct. 2023 Last May, that office filed a criminal case for indecent exposure with Bexar County’s district attorney. Andrew Greif, Los Angeles Times, 8 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'indecent exposure.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of indecent exposure was in 1828

Dictionary Entries Near indecent exposure

Cite this Entry

“Indecent exposure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indecent%20exposure. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

indecent exposure

noun
: intentional exposure of part of one's body (as the genitalia) in a place where such exposure is likely to be an offense against the generally accepted standards of decency in a community

Legal Definition

indecent exposure

noun
in·​de·​cent exposure
: the exposing of one's private body parts (as the genitals) either recklessly or intentionally and under circumstances likely to cause offense or affront

Note: Indecent exposure is generally classified as a misdemeanor.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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