1. (law) a statutory offense that provides that it is a crime to knowingly cause another person to engage in an unwanted sexual act by force or threat
   "most states have replaced the common law definition of rape with statutes defining sex offense";
   - sexual assault, sexual abuse, sex crime, sex offence [Brit, Cdn], abuse

Derived forms: sex offenses

Type of: regulatory offence [Brit, Cdn], regulatory offense [US], statutory offence [Brit, Cdn], statutory offense [US]

Encyclopedia: Sex offense