battery

noun

bat·​tery ˈba-t(ə-)rē 

plural batteries

1

a

: the act of beating someone or something with successive blows : the act of battering (see batter entry 1 sense 1)

b

law : an offensive touching or use of force on a person without the person's consent

evidence that supports a charge of battery

compare assault entry 1 sense 2a

2

[Middle French batterie, from battre to beat] military

a

: a grouping of artillery pieces for tactical (see tactical sense 1a(1)) purposes

a battery of cannon from the Revolutionary War

b

: the guns of a warship

the starboard battery

3

military : an artillery (see artillery sense 2b) unit in the army equivalent to a company (see company entry 1 sense 2b)

4

a

: a combination of apparatus for producing a single electrical effect

a battery of generators

b

: a group of two or more cells (see cell sense 6) connected together to furnish electric current

also : a single cell that furnishes electric current

need to replace the flashlight's batteries

c

batteries plural : level of energy or enthusiasm

needs a vacation to recharge her batteries

5

a(1)

: a number of similar articles, items, or devices arranged, connected, or used together : set, series

ran through a battery of tests

a battery of filing cabinets

(2)

: a series of cages or compartments for raising or fattening poultry

—often used before another noun

battery chickens

battery farming

b

: a usually impressive or imposing group : array

a battery of specialists

6

: the position of readiness of a gun for firing

the gun would not return to battery

—Infantry Journal

7

baseball : the pitcher and catcher of a team

one of the greatest batteries in baseball history

Synonyms

• batch
• cluster
• array
• collection
• bunch
• bank
• assemblage
• constellation
• package

Examples of battery in a Sentence

I bought new batteries for the flashlights.

The operation was performed by a battery of doctors.

Recent Examples on the Web

The all-electric vehicles are equipped with shotguns, shields and ladders and additional battery capacity to better handle the demands of a police department, McMahill said. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2025

Several leading automakers are investing in solid-state batteries as the next potential leap for electric vehicles. —Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2025

If the alarm sounds weak or low or doesn’t come on at all, replace the batteries. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2025

The server, a capricious machine with a battery of hard drives, occupied a soundproof box in his home studio. —Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Anglo-French baterie, from batre to beat, from Latin battuere

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing battery

• AAA battery
• AA battery
• alkaline battery
• assault and battery
• dead battery
• double-A battery
• flat battery
• lithium-ion battery
• solar battery
• storage battery
• triple-A battery

Rhymes for battery

• flattery
• slattery

Kids Definition

battery

noun

bat·​tery ˈbat-ə-rē 

ˈba-trē

plural batteries

1

a

: the act of beating

b

: the unlawful beating or use of force upon a person

2

: two or more big military guns that are controlled as a unit

3

: an electric cell or connected electric cells for providing electric current

a flashlight battery

4

: a number of similar articles, items, or devices arranged, connected, or used together

a battery of tests

5

: the pitcher and catcher of a baseball team

Medical Definition

battery

noun

bat·​tery ˈbat-ə-rē, ˈba-trē 

plural batteries

1

a

: a combination of apparatus for producing a single electrical effect

b

: a group of two or more cells connected together to furnish electric current

also : a single cell that furnishes electric current

2

: a group or series of tests

especially : a group of intelligence or personality tests given to a subject as an aid in psychological analysis

Legal Definition

battery

noun

bat·​tery ˈba-tə-rē, -trē 

: the crime or tort of intentionally or recklessly causing offensive physical contact or bodily harm (as by striking or by administering a poison or drug) that is not consented to by the victim compare assault

— aggravated battery

: criminal battery that is accompanied by aggravating factors: as

a : criminal battery that causes or is intended to cause serious bodily injury especially through the use of a dangerous weapon

b : criminal battery committed on a protected person (as a minor or a police officer) compare simple battery in this entry

Note: Aggravated battery is usually classified as a felony.

— sexual battery

: intentional and offensive sexual contact and especially sexual intercourse with a person who has not given or (as in the case of a child) is incapable of giving consent

broadly : forced or coerced contact with the sexual parts of either the victim or the perpetrator see also rape

Note: This is a broad definition of the offense. The specific elements of this crime vary from state to state, and some states use more narrow definitions.

— simple battery

: criminal battery that is not accompanied by aggravating factors (as a dangerous weapon) compare aggravated battery in this entry

Note: Simple battery is usually classified as a misdemeanor.

Etymology

Old French batterie beating, from battre to beat, from Latin battuere