Battery - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition battery

battery

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[Old French batterie beating, from battre to beat, from Latin battuere]
: the crime or tort of intentionally or recklessly causing offensive physical contact or bodily harm (as by striking or by administering a poison or drug) that is not consented to by the victim compare assault

aggravated battery
: criminal battery that is accompanied by aggravating factors: as
a : criminal battery that causes or is intended to cause serious bodily injury esp. through the use of a dangerous weapon
b : criminal battery committed on a protected person (as a minor or a police officer) compare simple battery in this entry NOTE: Aggravated battery is usually classified as a felony.

sex·u·al battery
: intentional and offensive sexual contact and esp. sexual intercourse with a person who has not given or (as in the case of a child) is incapable of giving consent
;broadly
: forced or coerced contact with the sexual parts of either the victim or the perpetrator see also rape NOTE: This is a broad definition of the offense. The specific elements of this crime vary from state to state, and some states use more narrow definitions.

simple battery
: criminal battery that is not accompanied by aggravating factors (as a dangerous weapon) compare aggravated battery in this entry NOTE: Simple battery is usually classified as a misdemeanor.