Meaning of wifebeating | Babel Free

Definitions

The act or practice of physically assaulting one's wife.

countable, uncountable

Examples

“That suggests that the wifebeatings in this nation are running into the many millions annually!”

“But creepily enough, from '30s delta bluesman Robert Johnson's beating-until-satisfied "Me and Devil Blues" to Jackie Gleason's 1954 "One Of These Days — Pow!" to Dion's face-slapping 1962 "Little Diane" to Lou Reed exclaiming "you better hit her" in "There She Goes Again" to the Intruders chasing girls and beating 'em up in their 1968 beach-soul hit "Cowboys to Girls" to the "wifebeating has been around for 10,000 years" headline fronting Guns N' Roses Lies, those in favor seem more prevalent.”

“Though many states had laws by 1870 that prohibited wifebeating, the laws seem to have been enforced only weakly.”

CEFR level