What defines battery in legal terms?

Battery, in legal terms, is defined as the willful use of force upon another person. This encompasses any intentional act that leads to harmful or offensive contact with another individual. The key element here is intent; the person committing battery must have the intention to exert force, which distinguishes battery from other forms of harm, such as negligence or accidental injury.

Intent can be established if the person had the desire to bring about the harmful contact or if they acted with substantial certainty that such contact would occur. It is important to note that the actual infliction of injury or harm does not have to result for an act to qualify as battery; the mere application of force—whether slight or significant—can constitute the offense. Additionally, battery does not require the victim to suffer physical harm, as even offensive or unwanted touching may be sufficient.

The other options address different concepts related to legal terms but do not fit the definition of battery. Willful threat to harm refers to assault rather than battery, while unintentional harm is associated with negligence rather than intentional acts. The release of private information pertains to privacy violations or breaches rather than physical contact or force. Thus, the correct answer accurately captures the essence of what defines battery in legal contexts.