consensual

adjective con·sen·su·al \ kən-ˈsen(t)-sh(ə-)wəl , -shəl , -shü-əl \

|Updated on: 8 Jul 2018

Examples: consensual in a Sentence

Definition of consensual

1 : existing or made by mutual consent without an act of writing

a consensual contract

2 : involving or based on mutual consent

consensual acts

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consensually

adverb

See consensual defined for English-language learners

See consensual defined for kids

Examples of consensual in a Sentence

She claims their relationship was consensual.

Recent Examples of consensual from the Web

An internal Intel investigation discovered a consensual relationship between Krzanich and a lower-ranking employee, which violated the company’s work policy.

— jonathan vanian, Fortune, "Former Intel Executive Diane Bryant Is Leaving Google After Joining Last Fall," 3 July 2018
That report recommended public statutes should avoid legislating morality, and that the government should remove consensual homosexual liaisons from criminal law.

— lorraine boissoneault, Smithsonian, "The True Story of “A Very English Scandal” and the Trials of a Closeted Gay Politician," 27 June 2018
Only eight of the people, like Kraznich, were said to be involved in consensual relationships.

— jeff green / bloomberg, Time, "#MeToo Has Implicated 414 High-Profile Executives and Employees in 18 Months," 25 June 2018
Only eight of the people, including Krzanich, were said to be involved in consensual relationships.

— bloomberg, latimes.com, "#MeToo movement has singled out more than 400 high-profile people," 25 June 2018
Singer said the woman who made the complaint had a consensual relationship with his client in the 1980s.

— sonya hamasaki and cheri mossburg, CNN, "Sylvester Stallone subject of sex crimes investigation," 13 June 2018
Hutchison has denied the allegations and said that the two later had a consensual relationship.

— abby gardner, Glamour, "Olympian Ariana Kukors Smith Sues USA Swimming, Alleges Sexual Abuse Cover-Up," 21 May 2018
Shaw said part of the encounter was consensual but not all of it.

— jenny dial creech, San Antonio Express-News, "Sexual assault case leads to questions of proper punishment at Texas A&M," 13 June 2018
These situations bear little resemblance to consensual B.D.S.M. encounters, practitioners say.

— New York Times, "The Boundary Between Abuse and B.D.S.M.," 23 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'consensual.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of consensual

Latin consensus + English -al

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1754

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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CONSENSUAL Defined for English Language Learners

consensual

adjective

Definition of consensual for English Language Learners

: agreed to by the people involved : done with the consent of the people involved

Medical Dictionary

consensual

adjective con·sen·su·al \ kən-ˈsench-(ə-)wəl, -ˈsen-chəl \

medical Definition of consensual

1 : existing or made by mutual consent

consensual sexual behavior

2 : relating to or being the constrictive pupillary response of an eye that is covered when the other eye is exposed to light

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consensually

play \-ē\ adverb

Law Dictionary

consensual

adjective con·sen·su·al \ kən-ˈsen-chə-wəl \

legal Definition of consensual

1 : existing or made by mutual consent without any further act (as a writing)

2 : involving or based on mutual consent

consensual sexual intercourse

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consensual

Definition of consensual

consensually

Examples of consensual in a Sentence

Recent Examples of consensual from the Web

Origin and Etymology of consensual

CONSENSUAL Defined for English Language Learners

consensual

Definition of consensual for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

consensual

medical Definition of consensual

consensually

Law Dictionary

consensual

legal Definition of consensual

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