Battery is an intentional tort involving harmful or offensive physical contact with another person.
Why It Matters
Battery matters because civil law protects bodily integrity. A person may face liability for intentionally causing contact that the law treats as harmful or offensive, even if the injury is not severe.
Where It Appears
Battery appears in civil cases involving fights, unwanted touching, physical confrontations, and other deliberate contact disputes.
Practical Example
A person intentionally shoves another during an argument. That physical contact may support a battery claim.
How It Differs From Nearby Terms
Assault is about the threatened or anticipated contact. Battery requires that the contact actually happen. Negligence is different because it concerns careless conduct rather than intentional contact.
Related Terms
Knowledge Check
- What is required for battery? Battery requires actual harmful or offensive contact.
- How does battery differ from assault? Battery involves completed contact, while assault involves reasonable anticipation of immediate contact.