duty to retreat
noun
law
: a duty to use reasonable efforts to escape or retreat from an attacker before using force to defend oneself
When threatened by an aggressor outside their homes, people in New York, under current law, have a duty to retreat—if possible—before resorting to force.—
Joe Mahoney
Joe Mahoney[Samuel L.] Davis filed a motion Monday asking a judge to prohibit the commonwealth from arguing Fisher had a duty to retreat. Davis contends Fisher was acting in self-defense, and he expects prosecutors may argue that Fisher's use of force was unreasonable and unlawful because he did not first attempt to retreat.—Susy Kelly
Susy KellyExamples of duty to retreat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Vermont and Washington, DC, remain the only two jurisdictions where a duty to retreat remains supreme.
—Cedric Dark, WIRED, 14 Sep. 2024
But a duty to retreat when in public exists in many states.
—Cedric Dark, WIRED, 14 Sep. 2024
In her order earlier this week, Judge Pooler noted that Martinez had no duty to retreat and was permitted to meet force with force.
—Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 23 May 2024
The doctrine still maintains a duty to retreat. 2007: No permits required
The state does away with its permit-to-purchase handgun law in 2007, which was established in 1921.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 16 Feb. 2024
Missouri is one of at least 28 states with no duty to retreat.
—USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2023
In Maryland, that means that a guard faced with a threat has a duty to retreat before using force against another person.
—Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 31 Aug. 2023
Banks said the shooter neglected multiple opportunities to run away, thus failing his legal duty to retreat before firing.
—Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 24 July 2023
Where is the force justified? These elements in state law fall under the Castle Doctrine — removing the duty to retreat in one’s home, workplace or vehicle.
—Zaeem Shaikh, Dallas News, 24 Apr. 2023
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Cedric Dark, WIRED, 14 Sep. 2024
But a duty to retreat when in public exists in many states.
—Cedric Dark, WIRED, 14 Sep. 2024
In her order earlier this week, Judge Pooler noted that Martinez had no duty to retreat and was permitted to meet force with force.
—Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 23 May 2024
The doctrine still maintains a duty to retreat. 2007: No permits required
The state does away with its permit-to-purchase handgun law in 2007, which was established in 1921.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 16 Feb. 2024
Missouri is one of at least 28 states with no duty to retreat.
—USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2023
In Maryland, that means that a guard faced with a threat has a duty to retreat before using force against another person.
—Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 31 Aug. 2023
Banks said the shooter neglected multiple opportunities to run away, thus failing his legal duty to retreat before firing.
—Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 24 July 2023
Where is the force justified? These elements in state law fall under the Castle Doctrine — removing the duty to retreat in one’s home, workplace or vehicle.
—Zaeem Shaikh, Dallas News, 24 Apr. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near duty to retreat
Cite this Entry
“Duty to retreat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/duty%20to%20retreat. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share