sex·u·al abuse /'sek-shə-wəl-, -shwəl-/ n
1 a: the infliction of sexual contact upon a person by forcible compulsion
b: the engaging in sexual contact with a person who is below a specified age or who is incapable of giving consent because of age or mental or physical incapacity
2: the crime of engaging in or inflicting sexual abuse
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.