molestation

/ˌmɒleˈsteɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌməʊleˈsteɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌmōˌleˈstāshən -ˌləˈ-/ (ame, mw)

molestation — noun

1. the crime of using one's body to make unwanted sexual contact with another perso

1.名詞C1
釋義

the crime of using one's body to make unwanted sexual contact with another person, very often a child who cannot say no.

例句

The court sentenced Hassan to ten years in prison for the molestation of two young girls.

molestation of [victim] in a court ruling

Survivors of childhood molestation often need years of therapy before they can speak about what happened.

common collocation: childhood molestation

同義詞
  • sexual abuse

    broader, everyday term covering the same crime; used in news and policy.

  • child abuse

    specific to harm done to children; covers physical and emotional harm too, not only sexual.

  • assault

    wider legal term for any unwanted physical attack; 'sexual assault' is the closer match.

文法句型

molestation of [victim]

[X] is charged with molestation

用法筆記

Almost always refers to sexual abuse in modern English, especially of children. The older general sense of 'harassment' or 'annoyance' has fallen out of everyday use. Often appears in news, court, and legal contexts; rarely heard in casual conversation.

常見錯誤

❌The noisy neighbours caused molestation to our family.
✅The noisy neighbours caused trouble for our family.
💡'molestation' no longer means general annoyance; using it that way sounds wrong and may upset listeners.
❌He was arrested for molestation his niece.
✅He was arrested for the molestation of his niece.
💡the noun takes 'of' before the victim, not a direct object.