child abuse

noun

1. mistreatment of a child by a parent or guardian, including neglect, beating, and sexual molestation.

child abuse

noun

1. physical, sexual, or emotional ill-treatment or neglect of a child, esp by those responsible for its welfare See also nonaccidental injury

Word History and Origins

Origin of child abuse¹

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Two years later, the Southern Baptist Conference collection of US Protestant Churches released a list of hundreds of Church leaders accused of child abuse between 2000 and 2019.

From BBC

“You have to be black-and-white about child abuse,” she continues.

From BBC

Mr Welby faced mounting pressure to step down after it emerged last week that he did not follow up rigorously enough on reports of prolific child abuse associated with the Church.

From BBC

As of this writing, 24 states included substance use in pregnancy in their definitions of “childhood abuse or neglect,” and some states in which cannabis was legal have even charged women with child abuse.

From Salon

Warning: This story contains distressing details relating to extreme child abuse and suicide.

From BBC