karate

noun

ka·​ra·​te kə-ˈrä-tē How to pronounce karate (audio)
: a Japanese art of self-defense employing hand strikes and kicks to disable or subdue an opponent
karateist noun

Examples of karate 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.
There’s a hacker, an explosives girl, a guy who uses knives, two siblings who just…do karate and then a girl in a massive mech suit. Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025 His part-time job is teaching karate to 4- to 12-year-olds at Seven Spears Martial Arts Academy in Poway. Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025 Han comes along to train Li in martial arts, while Danny LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), the original Karate Kid, arrives from California to teach Li karate. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 31 May 2025 Karate Kid: Legends No, three original movies, two spinoffs and one years-long series is not enough of a child doing karate, otherwise known as Karate Kid. Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for karate

Word History

Etymology

Japanese, from kara empty + te hand

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of karate was in 1926

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Karate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/karate. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

karate

noun
ka·​ra·​te kə-ˈrät-ē How to pronounce karate (audio)
: a Japanese art of self-defense without a weapon
Etymology

from Japanese karate, literally, "empty hand"

More from Merriam-Webster on karate

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!