self-defense

noun

self-de·​fense ˌself-di-ˈfen(t)s 

1

: a plea of justification for the use of force or for homicide

2

: the act of defending oneself, one's property, or a close relative

Examples of self-defense in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After all, few imagined that Trump would move so swiftly to not only abandon Ukraine, but also to threaten it—undermining Ukraine’s self-defense at the very moment that defense is complicating Russian war plans. —David Axe, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025

President Joe Biden supported Ukraine's self-defense and worked with other Western leaders to isolate Putin. —Zac Anderson, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025

His advocacy for racial separatism and self-defense often put him at odds with Martin Luther King Jr., who preached a message of nonviolence and racial integration, according to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University. —Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2025

Gracie using Benjamin Bratt to act out self-defense moves on national TV? —Emma Specter, Vogue, 21 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for self-defense

• antisense
• commonsense
• effulgence
• frankincense
• ninepence
• nondefense
• penitence
• recommence
• recompence
• recompense
• cense
• dense

Kids Definition

self-defense

noun

self-de·​fense

ˌself-di-ˈfen(t)s

: the act of defending oneself, one's property, or a close relative

Legal Definition

self-defense

noun

self-de·​fense

ˈself-di-ˈfens

1

: the use of force to defend oneself

2

: an affirmative defense (as to a murder charge) alleging that the defendant used force necessarily to protect himself or herself because of a reasonable belief that the other party intended to inflict great bodily harm or death see also justification sense 2