A threat or attempt to inflict bodily injury where the victim has reason to believe the injury may be inflicted.
In the law, a threat to cause deliberate or reckless physical injury to someone, as opposed to battery, which is actual physical violence or offensive contact. Simple assault is a threat the person did not seriously intend to carry out or an uncompleted attempt at injury, while aggravated assault refers to threat with intention to do physical injury or to commit other crimes. In general usage, as in discussions of child abuse, the term is often used more loosely, as in “sexual assault,” but such actions are legally considered battery.
In law, the attempt or threat to use violence to harm another person; if actual violent contact is made with the other person’s body, battery has been committed in addition to assault. Assault is a crime of attempt that requires intent to harm; threatening words or intentions alone do not constitute assault. Criminal statutes differentiate among various degrees of assault, including simple assault; assault with a deadly weapon; and aggravated assault, which is defined as assault involving the intent to commit robbery or rape.
The threat of unlawful touching of another.
An unlawful attempt or threat to harm someone.
In the context of forensic medicine, an illegal assault on an individual.