child abuse

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

child′ abuse′, 

1. Psychiatry, Psychology, Sociology mistreatment of a child by a parent or guardian, including neglect, beating, and sexual molestation.

• 1970–75

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

child abuse noun

1. physical, sexual, or emotional ill-treatment or neglect of a child, esp by those responsible for its welfare