noun
Uncommon
incest
IHN-sehst
Incest (noun) means Sexual relations between close relatives, which is widely considered taboo and is illegal in most places.
noun
1
Sexual relations between close relatives, which is widely considered taboo and is illegal in most places.
"The novel deals with the trauma caused by incest within the family."
How to use incest
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSex between close family members, treated as a serious taboo and crime.
When to use it
A serious, clinical/legal term — always used in formal or sensitive contexts, never casually.
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Word forms
- Plural
- incests
- Third person singular
- incests
- Past tense
- incested
Etymology
A learned borrowing from Latin incestus, "unchaste, impure." It replaced the Old English term mǣghǣmed, literally "relative-sex."
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of incest?
"incest" (noun) means sexual relations between close relatives, which is widely considered taboo and is illegal in most places.
How do you use incest in a sentence?
Example: "The novel deals with the trauma caused by incest within the family."
