What does accosting mean?
Accosting is the act of approaching and addressing someone — typically a stranger — in a bold, abrupt, or aggressive manner. Derived from the verb 'accost', it carries distinctly negative connotations: the person being approached has not invited the contact, and the encounter usually feels intrusive, confrontational, or threatening. In everyday usage one might speak of the accosting of commuters by aggressive beggars or of a journalist by an angry official. The word also survives in legal language, where accosting can denote publicly soliciting someone, historically in reference to prostitution offences. Although far less common than its parent verb, accosting remains useful when writers need a noun form to describe such unwelcome approaches. Its etymology adds a memorable twist: it comes ultimately from the Latin costa, meaning 'rib' or 'side', so to accost someone was originally to approach them at their side.
The action of approaching and addressing someone boldly or aggressively, especially a stranger.
"The report described the accosting of several pedestrians by an intoxicated man."
Most frequently encountered in formal or legal contexts; the verb 'accost' is more common in general use.
(Law) The act of soliciting or importuning a person in public, especially for immoral purposes.
"He was arrested for the accosting of women near the bus terminal."
This sense appears chiefly in older or jurisdiction-specific legal usage.
When you accost someone, you are literally going 'to their ribs' — the word traces back to the Latin costa, meaning side or rib.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of accosting
Accosting derives from the verb accost, which entered English in the late 16th century from Middle French accoster, meaning 'to go alongside' or 'to approach'. The French term came from Late Latin accostare, formed from ad- ('to') and costa ('rib, side'), so the original sense was literally to come up to someone's side. English retains the same Latin root in words such as coast, costal, and intercostal.
Related word forms
How accosting is actually used
As a noun, 'accosting' is relatively rare compared with the verb 'accost'; it appears most often in legal contexts or formal writing. It carries an unfavourable connotation, implying unwanted or intrusive address.
Easily confused with accosting
Costing refers to estimating the price or expense of something, whereas accosting means boldly approaching and addressing someone.