What does battery refer to in legal terms?

In legal terms, battery specifically refers to the actual infliction of unlawful force against another person. This means that for an action to be classified as battery, there must be a physical act where one individual causes harmful or offensive contact to another, intentionally or negligently. The key components of battery include the physical aspect of the act (the contact), the intent behind the act (it must be intentional, or in some jurisdictions, reckless), and the lack of lawful justification for the force used.

The definition of battery distinguishes it from other concepts such as attempted harm or threats of violence, which do not involve the actual physical contact necessary for battery. Furthermore, emotional distress pertains to psychological harm rather than physical contact and is typically categorized separately under tort law. This understanding highlights the importance of physical action in establishing a case for battery as opposed to mere intent or emotional effects.