Seduction Law and Legal Definition
Seduction refers to an act by which a man entices a woman to have unlawful sexual relations with him by means of persuasions, solicitations, promises, or bribes without the use of physical force or violence. It was a statutory crime in the U.S. until the late 20 th century. Some state statutes give a right of action to an unmarried woman for her own seduction. Similarly, it some statutes make it a felony to seduce an unmarried woman.[ Code of Ala. §]
In civil actions and in criminal prosecutions for seduction, evidence of pregnancy and childbirth attributed by the prosecuting witness or plaintiff to the act of seduction is admissible.[Phillips v. Ashworth, 220 Ala. 237 (Ala. 1929)]
However, many states have abolished this offense for such persons who are over the age of legal consent.
