Aggravated battery in criminal law is a more serious form of battery, and is considered a felony. Aggravated battery can be punished by a fine or more than a year in prison in some countries. Simple battery which is a misdemeanor in some countries can only be punished by less than one year in jail in those countries, or by a fine.

Acts most often defined under aggravated battery are:

• use of a deadly weapon

• battery in which serious bodily injury occurs, and

• battery against a child or police officer.