{"id":387701,"date":"2025-12-08T15:34:58","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T20:34:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/?page_id=387701"},"modified":"2025-12-08T15:25:46","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T20:25:46","slug":"whats-the-difference-between-assault-and-battery","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/whats-the-difference-between-assault-and-battery.html","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s the Difference Between Assault and Battery?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

What\u2019s the Difference Between Assault and Battery?<\/h1>\n\n
\n
\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

\n

Assault is an intentional threat to cause imminent harm<\/span> to another person. Battery is the actual unlawful physical contact<\/span> that causes harm or offense. These are separate crimes<\/span> with distinct legal elements and penalties, though they often occur together in a single incident.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Assault and battery<\/span> are often mentioned in the same breath, but they are actually separate crimes<\/span> with different penalties and defenses. In many cases, law enforcement<\/span> will arrest someone for both assault and battery<\/span>, because it\u2019s common for an assault to result in battery.<\/p>\n

The primary difference between assault and battery<\/span><\/a> is that:<\/p>\n