: 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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The San Jose State University student, who had a brown belt in karate and aspired to be a police officer, apparently fought furiously against her knife-wielding attacker, this news organization reported in 1989.
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Jason Green, Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2026
The karate moves, unstoppable hips and physical swagger are there, yet so is some vulnerability and humility.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026
Jason was also a martial artist and owned and operated his own karate studios.
—Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
On top of Megadeth’s Grammy accolades and double-platinum record sales, Mustaine beat throat cancer in 2019, holds black belts in taekwondo and karate, and owns a successful winemaking business with his wife and daughter.
—Eli Enis, Pitchfork, 26 Jan. 2026
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Jason Green, Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2026
The karate moves, unstoppable hips and physical swagger are there, yet so is some vulnerability and humility.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026
Jason was also a martial artist and owned and operated his own karate studios.
—Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
On top of Megadeth’s Grammy accolades and double-platinum record sales, Mustaine beat throat cancer in 2019, holds black belts in taekwondo and karate, and owns a successful winemaking business with his wife and daughter.
—Eli Enis, Pitchfork, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for karate
Cite this Entry
“Karate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/karate. Accessed 5 Mar. 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"
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