Definition of Domestic abuse from the Domestic Abuse Act 2021:
1) This section defines “domestic abuse” for the purposes of this Act.
(2) Behaviour of a person (“A”) towards another person (“B”) is “domestic abuse” if— (a) A and B are each aged 16 or over and are “personally connected” to each other, and (b) the behaviour is abusive. (3) Behaviour is “abusive” if it consists of any of the following— (a) physical or sexual abuse; (b) violent or threatening behaviour; (c) controlling or coercive behaviour; (d) economic abuse (see subsection (4)); (e) psychological, emotional or other abuse; and it does not matter whether the behaviour consists of a single incident or a course of conduct.
(4) “Economic abuse” means any behaviour that has a substantial adverse effect on B’s ability to — (a) acquire, use or maintain money or other property, or (b) obtain goods or services.
(5) For the purposes of this Act, A’s behaviour may be behaviour “towards” B despite the fact that it consists of conduct directed at another person (for example, B’s child).
(6) References in this Act to being abusive towards another person are to be read in accordance with this section. (7) For the meaning of “personally connected”,
It should be noted that in Chapter 3 of the Statutory Guidance of the act, it recognises that domestic abuse can encompass a range of behaviours, including abuse that is physical, violent or threatening behaviour, sexual abuse, controlling & coercive behaviour, harassment or stalking, economic abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, verbal abuse, technology-facilitated based, abuse relating to faith, ‘honour’-based abuse, forced marriage and female genital mutilation.