# intercourse

/ˈɪnɝˌkɔɹs/ (US) · /ˌɪntəkˈɔːs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/intercourse
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. sexual activity

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal · Technical

the formal or medical name for sex.

For teachers: sexual contact between individuals, typically referring to coitus. Often used in medical, legal, or formal sociological contexts.

- The doctor explained how the virus can be spread through sexual intercourse.
- The study examined the correlation between the frequency of sexual intercourse and overall cardiovascular health in middle-aged participants.

Usage: Usually uncountable, though 'an act of intercourse' is common in legal writing.

Teaching tip: In modern daily English, this is the most common meaning. Using it to mean 'conversation' can lead to unintended humor or confusion.

### 2. social or business connection

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Academic

the exchange of ideas, conversation, or business between people or countries.

For teachers: social, commercial, or intellectual communication and dealings between individuals, groups, or nations.

- The two islands had very little social intercourse because of the rough seas between them.
- The treaty was designed to encourage free commercial intercourse between the neighboring states after decades of closed borders.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'between' or 'with'.

Teaching tip: This sense is common in 19th-century literature and modern academic history, but rare in casual speech.

## Examples

- The doctor discussed the risks of unprotected intercourse.
- Social intercourse between the two neighboring tribes was limited to trading goods at the border once a month.
- While the term is most frequently used in a biological sense today, older literature often uses it to describe the intellectual intercourse that occurs within a vibrant academic community.

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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.