indecent exposure

noun

: intentional exposure of part of one's body (such as the genitals) in a place or under circumstances in which 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

Both were charged with multiple counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition, indecent exposure, and resisting arrest. —CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026

Federal prosecutors charged him with one count of indecent exposure on an aircraft, fined him $5,000 and sentenced him to two years’ probation plus 120 hours of community service. —Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026

Desiigner has faced legal trouble in the past, when he was arrested on indecent exposure charges while on a plane in April 2023. —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 25 Mar. 2026

This is most evident late in the picture, during an idealized recreation of the April 1969 Miami concert where Morrison was arrested for indecent exposure. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for indecent exposure

• closure
• crozier
• hosier
• mosher
• composure
• cynosure
• disclosure
• enclosure
• foreclosure
• inclosure
• nondisclosure
• postexposure

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.