: a Japanese art of self-defense employing hand strikes and kicks to disable or subdue an opponent
Examples of karate in a Sentence
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When Li enters the Five Boroughs karate tournament, Han ventures to Southern California to find Daniel, thinking the best way for his student to win is to combine kung fu skills with Miyagi karate.
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Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
Separately, a karate match between Shiv and his friend Simon ends with an injury, sparking a bitter feud between the two families that gradually escalates into a psychological war of revenge.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025
My favorite is the karate chop to the neck by skinny guys like Martin Landau.
—Rich Heldenfels, Boston Herald, 2 Mar. 2025
Despite showcasing his karate skills on screen for decades, Macchio admitted to Fox News Digital he’s never been in a fight in real life.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, Fox News, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for karate
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Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
Separately, a karate match between Shiv and his friend Simon ends with an injury, sparking a bitter feud between the two families that gradually escalates into a psychological war of revenge.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025
My favorite is the karate chop to the neck by skinny guys like Martin Landau.
—Rich Heldenfels, Boston Herald, 2 Mar. 2025
Despite showcasing his karate skills on screen for decades, Macchio admitted to Fox News Digital he’s never been in a fight in real life.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, Fox News, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for karate
Cite this Entry
“Karate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/karate. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
karate
noun
ka·ra·te
kə-ˈrät-ē 
: a Japanese art of self-defense without a weapon
Etymology
from Japanese karate, literally, "empty hand"
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