# assault and battery

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/assault-and-battery
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

The combination of two violent crimes: assault (the threat of violence) and battery (physical violence). This legal distinction exists only in jurisdictions that distinguish assault as threatened violence rather than actual violence.

## Examples

- The man faces charges of assault and battery after the fight.
- The police arrested the suspect for assault and battery after he threatened and then hit his neighbor.
- Following the violent altercation at the stadium, the prosecutor filed formal charges of assault and battery against the individuals involved in the brawl.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.