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
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Globally, conversations surrounding digital safety and the digital age of consent have rocketed in its wake. Denise Petski, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026 The age of consent in Oregon and Washington at the time was 18. Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2026 The memoir opened debate about consent in France and led to the passing of new legislation that set the age of consent at 15. Colette Davidson, Christian Science Monitor, 31 Oct. 2025 No sterilization below age of consent Is this right-wing? Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for age of consent

Word History

First Known Use

1504, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of age of consent was in 1504

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Cite this Entry

“Age of consent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/age%20of%20consent. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.

Medical Definition

age of consent

noun
age of con·​sent -kən-ˈsent How to pronounce age of consent (audio)
: 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

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