battered woman syndrome
noun
: the highly variable symptom complex of physical and psychological injuries exhibited by a woman repeatedly abused especially physically by her mate
called also battered woman's syndrome, battered wife syndrome, battered women's syndrome
Word History
First Known Use
1976, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
battered woman syndrome
noun
battered wom·an syndrome -ˈwu̇-mən-, -ˈwō-, -ˈwə- 
variants also battered woman's syndrome
-mənz-
: the highly variable symptom complex of physical and psychological injuries exhibited by a woman repeatedly abused especially physically by her mate
called also battered wife syndrome, battered women's syndrome
Legal Definition
battered woman syndrome
noun
battered wo·man syndrome
: the psychological symptoms suffered by a woman repeatedly abused by a mate (as a husband)
called also battered woman's syndrome
Note: Battered woman syndrome is used as a defense to violent criminal charges (as homicide). Evidence of repeated abuse is used to show that the defendant acted in self-defense even though the threat or danger was not imminent. Battered woman syndrome is also used as a mitigating factor in sentencing.