What is the legal definition of battery?

The legal definition of battery is centered around the concept of actual physical contact that occurs without consent. This definition includes any unlawful application of force onto another person, which can vary in severity from minor to serious injury. The key element here is that the touching must be non-consensual; consent is crucial in differentiating between lawful actions and those classified as a battery.

For instance, a situation could involve someone being pushed or struck without their permission — this act constitutes battery, as it fulfills the criteria of unauthorized, intentional contact. Other options, while related to the overarching theme of physical harm, focus on various forms of intimidation or threats rather than the direct act of non-consensual physical interaction that battery embodies. Therefore, the correct understanding of battery hinges upon recognizing its explicit requirement for actual contact, confirming option B as the correct choice.