assault and battery

American  

noun

Law.

1. an assault with an actual touching or other violence upon another. a&b

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assault and battery British  

noun

1. criminal law a threat of attack to another person followed by actual attack, which need amount only to touching with hostile intent

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Etymology

Origin of assault and battery

First recorded in 1580–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

assault and battery

Swift countersued for sexual assault and battery, asking for $1 in damages.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

The man Kesha sued over a decade ago for sexual assault and battery co-wrote and co-produced ten out of the eleven tracks on Perry’s last album, "143."

From Salon ● May 16, 2025

Attention will now turn to a civil lawsuit filed by Mr Neely's father, who is seeking damages for alleged civil assault and battery.

From BBC ● Dec. 14, 2024

The case in Dedham, Massachusetts, before Judge Paul McCallum was the first to be filed, with prosecutors in July 2021 charging McCarrick with three counts of indecent assault and battery.

From Reuters ● Aug. 30, 2023

Assault, therefore, does not necessarily imply a hitting or blow, because in trespass for assault and battery a man may be found guilty of the assault and acquitted of the battery.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 2 Amiel to Atrauli by Various