# seduction

/sɪˈdəkʃən/ (US) · /sɪdˈʌkʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/seduction
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. sexual persuasion

noun · CEFR B2

the act of persuading someone to have sex with you, often by using charm or gifts.

For teachers: the act of enticing someone into sexual activity, typically through deliberate persuasion or charm.

- The movie tells a story of seduction and betrayal in a small town.
- The protagonist's slow seduction of his rival's partner was calculated to cause maximum social damage within their tight-knit circle.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun for the general act, or countable for a specific instance.

### 2. attractive quality

noun · CEFR B2

a quality that makes something very attractive or tempting, even if it might be bad for you.

For teachers: the enticing or alluring quality of a particular thing or situation.

- He couldn't resist the seduction of a high-paying job in the city.
- The seductions of fame and easy money often lead young athletes to make poor long-term financial decisions.

Usage: Frequently used in the plural form when referring to multiple tempting aspects.

### 3. legal felony

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

an old law about a man tricking a woman into sex by promising to marry her.

For teachers: the historical felony of inducing a chaste, unmarried woman to engage in intercourse via a promise of marriage.

- In the 19th century, a man could be sued for the seduction of a young woman.
- The legal archives contain numerous cases of seduction where the primary evidence was a series of broken promises regarding a future wedding.

Usage: Used as a specific legal term in historical contexts; no longer a valid criminal charge in most modern jurisdictions.

Teaching tip: This sense is archaic; learners should only use it when discussing historical law or literature.

## Examples

- The seduction of the city lights was too strong to resist.
- The film explores the slow seduction of a young artist by the promise of fame and easy money.
- In legal history, seduction was once a specific tort involving the enticement of a person to engage in sexual intercourse under false pretenses, though modern usage focuses on general persuasion.

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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.