child molester
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A person, typically an adult, who commits sexual acts with a child. This term specifically denotes an individual who engages in the sexual abuse or exploitation of minors.
Usage
The term "child molester" is a legal and clinical label used to describe a perpetrator of child sexual abuse. It is a highly specific and serious term. * The community was shocked to learn a child molester had been living in the neighborhood. * The documentary examined the psychology of a convicted child molester.
Advanced Usage
- Legal Context: In legal proceedings, "child molester" is a descriptive term for a type of offender, often used in news reports or court documents. It is not typically a formal legal charge itself (e.g., charges would be "sexual assault of a minor" or "lewd acts with a child").
- The prosecutor described the defendant as a repeat child molester.
Variants and Related Words
- Pedophile (noun): A person who has a sustained sexual orientation toward children. It is important to note that not all pedophiles act on their urges, and not all child molesters are pedophiles (some may offend opportunistically). This is a distinct psychiatric term.
- Sex offender (noun): A broader legal term for anyone convicted of a sex crime, which includes but is not limited to child molesters.
- Predator (noun): Often used in media to describe someone who seeks out victims, such as a "child predator."
Synonyms
- Child abuser
- Sexual predator (when the context specifies children)
Important Note on Usage
The term "child molester" carries extreme gravity and stigma. It should be used with precision and only in contexts where the specific meaning of sexual abuse of a child is accurate and necessary. It is not a term for casual use.
Noun
- a man who has sex (usually sodomy) with a boy as the passive partner