Domestic violence is a form of gender-based violence (GBV), where the perpetrator seeks to exert control over the victim by taking advantage of power imbalances within the relationship. This power imbalance may be based on traditional gender roles and norms or on an interaction between these roles, norms and other factors - such as differences in age or economic power. Domestic violence is characterized by a close relationship between the perpetrator and the victim, which may be emotional, familial or due to living together.

When an act of domestic violence is committed in the context of a current or past romantic relationship, it is also referred to as intimate partner violence. To qualify as an act of domestic violence, the incident does not have to take place in the victim's or perpetrator's home. A partner, especially an ex-partner, can attack their victim anywhere. Additionally, the perpetrator and victim do not have to live in the same household for an act of violence to be considered domestic violence. If the perpetrators are family or household members, it is also called family violence.

Like gender-based violence, domestic violence can be sexual, physical, psychological, or economic in nature.

Examples of acts of sexual violence that may constitute an incident of domestic violence include: Rape – this also includes marital rape between married and unmarried couples; Sexual assault of a minor; Sexual coercion; Sexual harassment; Inappropriate touching; Forcing the victim to have sex without a condom; Preventing the victim from making her own choices about whether to have a baby.

Examples of physical violence that may constitute an incident of domestic violence include: Murder / femicide; Punching, kicking or hitting with objects; Attacking with acid, a knife, or a machete; Attacking with hot water, hot oil, or another hot object; Deprivation of victim's physical liberty; Deprivation of victim's food; Physical neglect of children (if the victim is a child); Physical neglect of the elderly (if the victim is an elderly person); Destruction of objects in the victim's home; Widowhood rites that affect the victim's physical and mental health.

Examples of emotional abuse that may constitute an incident of domestic violence include: Threats;Insult; Emotional neglect; Humiliation of the victim in front of others; Attacks damaging the victim's reputation; Isolation of the victim from family or friends; Controlling the victim's movements or communication; Denial of divorce; Spiritual abuse or religious abuse of the victim.

Examples of acts of economic violence or denial of opportunity that may constitute an incident of domestic violence include: Perpetrator abandons or kicks the victim out of the household; Confiscation of the victim's income; Prohibition of participating in the management of household income; Restriction of access to education or employment; Restriction of access to economic resources; Deprivation of medical care, medication, or assistive devices; “Lévirat,” or levirate, after the death of the spouse; Loss of property and assets or lack of access to inheritance after the death of the spouse or parent; Loss of custody of children after the death of the spouse.

Victims of domestic violence can be people from any socioeconomic background, and can include people living with disabilities, children, adolescents, the elderly, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer (LGBTIQ) and gender non-conforming people.