sodomy

play

noun sod·omy \ˈsä-də-mē\

Definition of sodomy

: anal or oral copulation with a member of the same or opposite sex; also : copulation with an animal

sodomitic

play \ˌsä-də-ˈmi-tik\ or

sodomitical

play \ˌsä-də-ˈmi-ti-kəl\ adjective

See sodomy defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of sodomy from the Web

Dennis John Davis, 58, was sentenced to prison in 1993 for rape, sodomy and kidnapping.

— samantha matsumoto, OregonLive.com, "Warrant issued for sex offender wanted on parole violation," 13 July 2017
Prosecutors have twice brought charges of sodomy against Anwar Ibrahim, the leader of the opposition coalition, who began his second jail term in 2015.

— The Economist, "Malaysia’s government harasses opponents as an election looms," 13 July 2017
Vernon Morris, 55, was convicted in July 1981 of forcible sodomy and unlawful imprisonment in New York.

— eric heisig, cleveland.com, "Sex offender who worked as security guard at school for at-risk children charged with failure to register," 7 July 2017
Todd Matus was convicted in absentia of rape and sodomy in 1976 and will now be sentenced to five to 15 years in a New York state prison for that crime, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Timothy Sini said at a news conference Friday.

— frank eltman, The Seattle Times, "Arizona man who fled 1976 rape trial sent back to New York," 30 June 2017
Williams was arraigned in court Friday afternoon on rape and sodomy allegations stemming from the 2011 incident.

— maxine bernstein, OregonLive.com, "Man tied to 2011 sexual assault attacked another woman before his arrest, police say," 30 June 2017
Just last week, Parliament voided convictions under an anti-sodomy law sharpened by the Nazis and then preserved by West Germany.

— stephanie kirchner, Washington Post, "Germany’s parliament legalizes same-sex marriage, bringing it in line with most neighbors," 30 June 2017
Despite an order from the judge banning the use of all recording devices, Drake Ewing photographed brother Jacob Ewing in a Holton, Kan., courtroom, where Jacob Ewing is being tried on charges of rape and aggravated criminal sodomy this week.

— max londberg, kansascity.com, "Against judge’s order, Jacob Ewing photographed in Holton, Kan., courtroom by brother," 29 June 2017
In fact, repression of gay Saudis is not only commonplace in the kingdom but sanctioned, and sodomy is cause for the death penalty.

— pablo mhanna-sandoval, Teen Vogue, "Justin Trudeau Attends Pride While Funding an Anti-LGBTQ Regime," 29 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of sodomy

Middle English, from Anglo-French sodomie, from Late Latin Sodoma Sodom; from the homosexual proclivities of the men of the city in Genesis 19:1–11

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

SODOMY Defined for English Language Learners

sodomy

play

noun

Definition of sodomy for English Language Learners

: anal sex with someone

Medical Dictionary

sodomy

play

noun sod·omy \ˈsäd-ə-mē\

Medical Definition of sodomy

plural

sodomies

: anal or oral copulation with a member of the same or opposite sex; also : copulation with an animal

sodomist

\ˈsäd-ə-məst\ noun

Law Dictionary

sodomy

play

noun sod·omy \ˈsä-də-mē\

Legal Definition of sodomy

: the crime of oral or anal sexual contact or penetration between persons or of sexual intercourse between a person and an animal; especially : the crime of forcing another person to perform oral or anal sex

sodomize

\ˈsä-də-ˌmīz\ play transitive verb

Origin and Etymology of sodomy

Anglo-French sodomie sexual intercourse between men, from Old French, from Late Latin Sodoma Sodom, from the supposed homosexual practices of the men of the city in Genesis 19:1-11