FORNICATION

fornication,n.1. Voluntary sexual intercourse between two unmarried persons. • Fornication is

still a crime in some states, such as Virginia. 2.Hist. Voluntary sexual intercourse with an

unmarried woman. • At common law, the status of the woman determined whether the offense was

adultery or fornication — adultery was sexual intercourse between a man, single or married, and a

married woman not his wife; fornication was sexual intercourse between a man, single or married,

and a single woman. Cf. ADULTERY. [Cases: Criminal Law 45.40; Lewdness 1. C.J.S.

Criminal Law § 7.10; Lewdness §§ 2–9.] — fornicate,vb.

“Fornication was not a common-law crime but was made punishable by statute in a few states

as a misdemeanor.” Rollin M. Perkins & Ronald N. Boyce, Criminal Law 455 (3d ed. 1982).[Blacks Law 8th]