intercourse
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the formal or medical name for sex.
sexual contact between individuals, typically referring to coitus. Often used in medical, legal, or formal sociological contexts.
Simple“The doctor explained how the virus can be spread through sexual intercourse.”
In context“The study examined the correlation between the frequency of sexual intercourse and overall cardiovascular health in middle-aged participants.”
UsageUsually uncountable, though 'an act of intercourse' is common in legal writing.
Teacher's tipIn modern daily English, this is the most common meaning. Using it to mean 'conversation' can lead to unintended humor or confusion.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
the exchange of ideas, conversation, or business between people or countries.
social, commercial, or intellectual communication and dealings between individuals, groups, or nations.
Simple“The two islands had very little social intercourse because of the rough seas between them.”
In context“The treaty was designed to encourage free commercial intercourse between the neighboring states after decades of closed borders.”
UsageOften followed by the preposition 'between' or 'with'.
Teacher's tipThis sense is common in 19th-century literature and modern academic history, but rare in casual speech.
Antonyms
“She said she had had a medical condition that in the late 1980s had not been diagnosed and had made sexual intercourse difficult and painful for her.”
“In 1984, Berry-Dee was arrested and charged with having unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13, but the case was dropped when the prosecution offered no evidence.”
Various theories; see Wikipedia article.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.