self-defense

noun

self-de·​fense ˌself-di-ˈfen(t)s How to pronounce self-defense (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See All Example Sentences for self-defense

Word History

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-defense was in 1609

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

“Self-defense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-defense. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on self-defense

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!