| Noun | 1. | sexual assault - 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 sexual assault" molestation - the act of subjecting someone to unwanted or improper sexual advances or activity (especially women or children) ravishment, assault, violation - the crime of forcing a woman to submit to sexual intercourse against her will regulatory offence, regulatory offense, statutory offence, statutory offense - crimes created by statutes and not by common law law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order" |