domestic violence

noun

: violent or abusive behavior directed by one family or household member against another

a domestic violence hotline

He helped start … a family-justice division of the D.A.'s office, which prosecutes those accused of domestic violence and helps their families get back to normal.

—John Cloud

In another disturbing trend, women are victims of domestic violence that spills into the workplace.

—Sarah Henry

Examples of domestic violence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Samantha Silverstein assigned bonds to Saxon for the strangulation and domestic violence charges. —Jennifer Edwards Baker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Dec. 2025

Her niece Lethy Liriano was one of her bridesmaids, and today is an activist who leads the annual Brides' March, where hundreds of women don wedding dresses and march in upper Manhattan to call out domestic violence. —Anna Schecter, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025

Department officials did not provide additional information about Valdez’s death, but on Friday announced that Thomas Perales, 38, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and violence of a protection order related to domestic violence. —Katie Langford, Denver Post, 6 Dec. 2025

According to Livermore police, Chirinos has an extensive criminal history, including prior arrests for DUI, assault, domestic violence, and false imprisonment in both Florida and Texas. —Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for domestic violence

• nonviolence

Kids Definition

domestic violence

noun

: the inflicting of physical harm by one family or household member on another

Legal Definition

domestic violence

noun

domestic vi·​o·​lence

: violence committed by one family or household member against another see also restraining order at order