# incest

/ˈɪnˌsɛst/ (US) · /ɪnsˈɛst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/incest
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. sexual relations within a family

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

sexual activity between people who are very closely related, such as parents and children or siblings.

For teachers: sexual intercourse between persons who are related within the degrees of kinship where marriage is legally or socially prohibited.

- In many cultures, there are strict laws and social rules against incest.
- The legal definition of incest varies significantly across jurisdictions, particularly regarding the inclusion of first cousins or relatives by marriage.

Usage: Uncountable in general usage.

### 2. to engage in incest

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

to have a sexual relationship with a close family member.

For teachers: to engage in sexual activity with a close relative; this verbal form is significantly less common than the noun.

- The old play told a dark story of a king who chose to incest with his own kin.
- The poet used the term to describe a dynasty that had incestuously maintained its bloodline for centuries.

Usage: Used both with and without a direct object.

## Examples

- The law strictly forbids incest.
- Many ancient myths explore the tragic consequences of incest within royal families to illustrate moral lessons.
- Anthropologists have long studied the universal nature of the taboo against incest, noting how it shapes kinship structures and inheritance laws across disparate civilizations.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.