Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

criminal conversation

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.45 in modern English

Syllables: crim-i-nal -con-ver-sa-tion
IPA

29

Scrabble Score

20

Letters

7

Syllables

12

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Unlawful sexual intercourse with a married person; adultery; a common law tort arising from adultery, abolished in many jurisdictions.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

"It then charged the defendant, William Atkinſon, with having ſeduced the plaintiff's wife, and with having had criminal converſation with her."
"Gentlemen of the Jury, This is an action for a compensation by damages, in consequence of a criminal conversation with the Plaintiff's wife, the circumstances of which are more serious and more painful than any I ever met with."
"The main object now was not necessarily to punish or even to prevent immorality, but to improve the law of divorce and to restrict private suits for ‘criminal conversation’."

Usage

Uncountable

Phrases

alienation of affections breach of promise

Frequently Paired Words

alienation of affections breach of promise

Synonyms

conversation crim. con. adultery fornication

Questions

What does criminal conversation mean?: Unlawful sexual intercourse with a married person; adultery; a common law tort arising from adultery, abolished in many jurisdictions.

How to pronounce criminal conversation

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