How is sexual assault defined in legal terms?

The definition of sexual assault in legal terms centers around the concept of consent. It is fundamentally defined as any sexual act committed against an individual without their explicit consent. This means that sexual intercourse or any other sexual activity that occurs when one party has not agreed to it, or has retracted consent, falls under the category of sexual assault.

In essence, the emphasis is on the absence of consent rather than on the specific acts involved. When determining legal definitions, clarity around consent is paramount because it establishes whether an act can be classified as assault. Each of the other choices may highlight situations related to sexual offenses or violence, but they do not specifically encapsulate the core definition of sexual assault as it pertains directly to the lack of consent. Therefore, the correct definition reflects the essential legal understanding of sexual assault, which is intercourse without consent.