What is the legal term for intentionally causing bodily harm to another person?

The legal term for intentionally causing bodily harm to another person is commonly known as battery. Battery involves not just an attempt to cause harm, but the actual infliction of physical injury or offensive contact. In legal contexts, battery is defined as the unlawful application of force to another person, which results in physical harm or injury.

While related terms like assault and aggravated assault exist, they differ in definitions. Assault typically refers to the threat or attempt to inflict harm, without necessarily causing physical injury. Aggravated assault usually involves more serious levels of intended harm, often with the use of a weapon or against a protected class of individuals. Harmful contact, while descriptive, is not a recognized legal term on its own in criminal law. Thus, battery is the accurate term for the specific act of intentionally causing bodily harm.