statutory rape

noun

: sexual intercourse with a person who is below the statutory age of consent

Examples of statutory rape in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Katelyn Dawn Schronce, 33, was arrested on April 17, 2025, and was initially charged with statutory rape, which left her facing up to 30 years behind bars. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026

Newman was subsequently charged with first-degree kidnapping and statutory rape of a child under the age of 15. —Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026

Newman has been charged with first degree kidnapping and multiple counts of statutory rape of a child between the ages of 12 and 15, Brunswick County court documents report. —Mark Price april 29, Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026

He was arrested on charges of first-degree kidnapping and statutory rape of a child under the age of 15, police said. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 29 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for statutory rape

• agape
• escape
• landscape
• lenape
• reshape
• seascape
• soundscape
• ape
• cape
• crape
• crepe
• drape

Medical Definition

statutory rape

noun

stat·​u·​to·​ry rape ˌstach-ə-ˌtōr-ē- 

: sexual intercourse with a person who is below the age of consent as defined by law

Legal Definition

statutory rape

noun

: rape consisting of sexual intercourse with a person beneath an age (as 14 years) specified by statute

Note: Many state statutes also specify a minimum age of the perpetrator or an age differential (as at least four years) between the perpetrator and the victim. Consent of the victim and belief that the victim is of the age of consent are usually considered immaterial. Statutory rape is now codified under various names, such as rape in the second degree, rape in the third degree, unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, and criminal sexual conduct in the second degree.