What is outercourse?

The Oxford Dictionary defines outercourse as “non-penetrative sexual activity”.

Outercourse can be used as a form of contraception. US non-profit organisation Planned Parenthood has a section dedicated to outercourse and abstinence on its website, where it states that outercourse “can prevent pregnancy the same way abstinence does: by keeping sperm away from an egg”.

Planned Parenthood offers the following examples of outercourse: kissing, massage, masturbation, dry humping (grinding) and talking about your fantasies.

Is outercourse ever used as a defence in UK courts?

“In our law, outercourse doesn’t exist,” Jonathon Enston, a lawyer at Slater and Gordon, tells Stylist. “It seems to be an American term, although it’s certainly been met with confusion in the American justice system as well.

“When courts look at what counts as a sexual assault, they look at whether the nature of the activity itself is sexual. We’re dealing with words here, and dry humping is one stage removed from sexual intercourse. Dry humping is a sexual activity, and the act is intentional. Here in the UK this defence wouldn’t work; I think it’s nonsense.”

The problem with Brock Turner and the “outercourse” defence