domestic violence.
1. Violence between members of a household, usu. spouses; an assault or other violent act committed by one member of a household against another. See BATTERED-CHILD SYNDROME; BATTERED-WOMAN SYNDROME. [Cases: Assault and Battery 48. C.J.S. Assault and Battery §§ 2–3, 62, 64–66, 81.]
2. The infliction of physical injury, or the creation of a reasonable fear that physical injury or harm will be inflicted, by a parent or a member or former member of a child’s household, against a child or against another member of the household.
— Also termed domestic abuse; family violence.
3. Archaic. Insurrection or unlawful force fomented from within a country.