What term means threat or attempt to injure another in an unlawful manner?

• A. Battery
• B. Invasion of privacy
• C. Assault
• D. Libel

Answer: (C)

Assault is the term that fits a threat or attempt to injure someone in an unlawful way. In tort terms, assault happens when one person intentionally acts in a way that creates a reasonable fear of imminent harmful or offensive contact. The important part is the fear or anticipation of harm, not actual physical touching—so a threat or an attempt qualifies even if no contact ever occurs. This distinguishes it from battery, which is the actual harmful or offensive contact that follows. Invasion of privacy and libel involve different harms: invading someone's private life, or making false written statements about someone, respectively. So the description here points to assault because it centers on the intent to harm and the imminent threat, not on contacting the person.