Battle: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Generally, a battle is an instance of combat between two or more parties wherein each group will seek to defeat the others. Battles are most often fought during wars. Battles may be small scale, only involving a handful of individuals, perhaps two squads, up to battles on army levels where hundreds of thousands may be engaged in a single battle at one time.

A battle is most often deemed to have been won by one party when its opponent has surrendered, been dispersed, forced to retreat or been rendered military ineffective for further combat operations.

See also military tactics, combat, warfare, list of battles

Battle is also the name of the town in East Sussex, England, which it acquired after William I, also known as William of Normandy, defeated Harold II of England nearby in 1066 in the Battle of Hastings.