age of consent

American  

noun

1. the age at which a person becomes legally competent to consent to marriage or sexual intercourse.

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age of consent British  

noun

1. the age at which a person is considered legally competent to consent to sexual intercourse

2. the age at which a person can enter into a legally binding contract

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Etymology

Origin of age of consent

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

He urges Sir Keir to "rather urgently" consider a smartphone ban in schools and a "digital age of consent", similar to Australia, which has passed a law banning children under 16 from using social media.

From BBC

But however it pans out, lawmakers — elected Republicans — finding the courage to say that science is real, the age of consent matters and that you really should wash your hands after using the bathroom?

From Salon

New York judge William Thompson Howell wrote 500 pages that spanned provisions on dueling, accidental homicides by ax and age of consent that would govern the newly formed territory of fewer than 7,000 people.

From Seattle Times

States like California and Colorado have recently lowered the age of consent for treatment to 12.

From Seattle Times

Norman Woods of South Dakota Family Voice Action said it doesn’t make sense to raise the age for marriage if the age of consent in South Dakota remains at 16.

From Seattle Times