: a Japanese art of self-defense employing hand strikes and kicks to disable or subdue an opponent
Examples of karate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Once it was plated, Ortiz urged me to karate-chop it, producing decadent cheese crisps for dipping into guacamole.
—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
Per his account, Gunner is interested in hummingbirds, karate and soccer.
—Katie Mannion, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
Lots of football, cricket, karate.
—Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
So do the gyrations, the karate poses, etc.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for karate
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.
The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
Per his account, Gunner is interested in hummingbirds, karate and soccer.
—Katie Mannion, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
Lots of football, cricket, karate.
—Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
So do the gyrations, the karate poses, etc.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 9 Dec. 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 16 Jan. 2026.
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"
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
