gross indecency

Meaning

1. 1noununcountablelegalBritish

   In law, a serious offence involving indecent sexual behavior; in older British law it was the charge used against men in same-sex relationships.

   Grammar: Uncountable legal term: he was convicted of gross indecency.

   Patterns

   • charged with gross indecency
   • convicted of gross indecency

   In 1895, the writer was convicted of gross indecency.

   The law against gross indecency was later repealed.

   The charge of gross indecency was widely condemned as unjust.

Common combinations

charged with gross indecency

He was charged with gross indecency.

convicted of gross indecency

Men were once convicted of gross indecency for private relationships.

the offence of gross indecency

The offence of gross indecency was removed from the statute book.

accused of gross indecency

Several well-known figures were accused of gross indecency.

a charge of gross indecency

A charge of gross indecency could mean prison.

Synonyms and how they differ

indecent conduct

Indecent conduct is a general phrase, while gross indecency was a specific named offence.

public indecency

Public indecency refers to offensive behavior in public, a different crime from gross indecency.

obscenity

Obscenity concerns offensive material or acts, whereas gross indecency was a particular statutory charge.

Opposites

Word family

indecent adjective

offending accepted standards of behavior

indecency noun

behavior that offends accepted standards

gross adjective

very serious or flagrant in law

decency noun

behavior that follows accepted moral standards

Commonly confused: gross indecency or indecent exposure?

Practice

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