How is "battery" defined?

Battery is defined as the unlawful application of force resulting in harm. This definition captures the key elements of the offense: the application of physical force must be intentional and not consented to, and it must cause some level of harm to the victim. This harm can be physical injury or offensive contact, reinforcing the need for the force applied to be unlawful. The essence of battery lies in the actual infliction of physical disturbance to another person, as opposed to merely threatening them or making contact that does not result in harm.

The other options fall outside the definition of battery; threats indicate an intention to cause harm without actual physical contact, while an intentional act without contact and non-harmful contact do not meet the criteria of applying force unlawfully. Therefore, recognizing the importance of the requirement for harm along with the application of force is central to understanding the legal concept of battery.