Assault: meaning, definitions and examples

👊

Add to dictionary

assault

[ əˈsɔːlt ]

^{Context #1}

legal

The act of physically attacking someone with the intention of causing harm, often resulting in legal consequences.

Synonyms

aggression, attack, battery

Examples of usage

He was charged with assault after hitting a pedestrian with his car.
The victim suffered multiple injuries as a result of the assault.

^{Context #2}

military

To make a physical attack on someone or something, usually with the intention of capturing or taking control.

Synonyms

attack, raid, strike

Examples of usage

The enemy forces attempted to assault the fortress under the cover of darkness.
The soldiers were ordered to assault the enemy position.

Translations

Translations of the word "assault" in other languages:

🇵🇹 assalto

🇮🇳 हमला (Hamla)

🇩🇪 Angriff

🇮🇩 serangan

🇺🇦 напад

🇵🇱 atak

🇯🇵 攻撃 (Kōgeki)

🇫🇷 assaut

🇪🇸 asalto

🇹🇷 saldırı

🇰🇷 공격 (Gonggyeok)

🇸🇦 اعتداء (i'tida')

🇨🇿 útok

🇸🇰 útok

🇨🇳 攻击 (Gōngjí)

🇸🇮 napad

🇮🇸 árás

🇰🇿 шабуыл

🇬🇪 შეტევა (sheteva)

🇦🇿 hücum

🇲🇽 asalto

Word origin

The word 'assault' originated from the Latin word 'assultare', which means 'to leap upon'. It was first used in the 13th century to refer to a violent physical attack. Over time, the term has evolved to encompass various forms of aggression, both physical and verbal. The legal definition of assault has been refined through judicial interpretation and legislation to address different degrees of intent and harm. In military contexts, assault refers to a tactical operation involving an attack on enemy positions. The word 'assault' carries connotations of aggression and forceful action.