What does rape mean?
Rape is a noun and verb with an overwhelmingly modern meaning relating to sexual violence. As a noun, it denotes sexual intercourse or another sexual act imposed on someone without consent, through force, coercion, or other means that prevent genuine agreement. As a verb, it means to subject another person to such an act. The word is treated as a grave matter and is frequently used in legal, journalistic, educational, and survivor-support contexts. In older English, it could mean seizure, plundering, or the violent taking of something; those senses are now archaic, although they explain the word's history. Although distinct instances may be counted with the plural “rapes,” the noun is also commonly used without a plural in general discussion. Because legal definitions of rape vary between jurisdictions, the word's general meaning is broader in some respects than the precise definitions used in particular criminal statutes.
Sexual intercourse or another sexual act committed against a person's will, without consent, or through force or coercion. Archaically, it also means seizure, plundering, or an act of ravaging.
"The report examines how survivors of rape are treated by police and courts."
Modern usage overwhelmingly concerns sexual violence. The plural “rapes” is used when counting separate instances, but the noun is often uncountable in general discussion.
To commit sexual intercourse or another sexual act against a person's will, without consent, or through force or coercion. Archaically, it means to seize, ravage, or take forcibly.
"The witness said that the offender had raped her after forcing his way into the house."
The modern sense is highly sensitive and is normally treated as a crime. Archaic meanings requiring the sense of seizure or violent taking occur chiefly in older literature.
The plural is used when counting distinct instances of the offence; the uncountable form is more common in general discussion.
"The investigation identified two separate rapes that occurred several years apart."
Once a word for seizure by force, “rape” now carries one of the gravest meanings in the English language: sexual violence.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rape come from?
The word is Old English in origin and originally referred to seizure or the act of taking by force. During the Middle English period, it developed senses connected with plundering or ravaging, while its specifically sexual sense was also recorded. It belongs to a Germanic family of words meaning “to seize” or “snatch,” represented by forms such as Dutch rapen and German raffen.
Related word forms
How rape is actually used
Modern usage overwhelmingly concerns non-consensual sexual activity. Older literary and legal contexts may preserve the now-archaic senses of seizure, ravaging, or plundering; legal definitions of the offence vary by jurisdiction.