Definition

Noun 1. A serious criminal offense: "Aggravated assault" is a specific legal term for an attack on another person with the intent to cause severe bodily harm. The "aggravated" element means the assault is made more serious by specific factors, such as the use of a weapon, the status of the victim, or the intent of the attacker. 2. An attack with intent to injure seriously: It is defined as a reckless or intentional attack carried out with the purpose of inflicting serious injury, often involving a deadly weapon.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The defendant was charged with aggravated assault after attacking the victim with a knife.
  • Aggravated assault is a felony that carries a heavier penalty than simple assault.
  • The police report listed the crime as aggravated assault due to the use of a firearm.

Advanced Usage

• Legal Context: In legal settings, "aggravated assault" is strictly distinguished from "simple assault." The distinction hinges on the presence of "aggravating factors."
• Aggravating Factors: These are circumstances that elevate a simple assault to an aggravated one. Common factors include:
  • Use of a deadly or dangerous weapon (e.g., gun, knife, baseball bat).
  • Intent to commit another felony (e.g., assault during a robbery).
  • Extreme indifference to the value of human life.
  • Assault resulting in severe or permanent injury.
  • Assault against a protected class of person (e.g., police officer, child, elderly person).

Variants and Related Words

• Assault (n): The broader term for an unlawful physical attack or threat of attack.
• Aggravated (adj): Made more serious or severe. (Note: This is the adjective form of the word used in the compound term "aggravated assault").
• Simple Assault (n): A lesser charge for an attack without the aggravating factors present in aggravated assault.
• Battery (n): In some legal jurisdictions, "assault" refers to the threat of violence, while "battery" refers to the actual physical contact. "Aggravated battery" is a related serious charge.

Synonyms

• Felonious assault: (Legal synonym) An assault that is classified as a felony.
• Violent attack: A more general descriptive term.
• Grievous bodily harm: (GBH - A UK legal term) A similar concept involving serious injury.

Related Phrases

• Charged with aggravated assault: The formal legal accusation for this crime.
  • He was arrested and charged with aggravated assault.
• Elements of aggravated assault: The specific facts that must be proven for a conviction.
  • The prosecutor must prove all elements of aggravated assault.

Noun

1. a reckless attack with intent to injure seriously (as with a deadly weapon)