martial art

noun

: any of several arts of combat and self-defense (such as karate and judo) that are widely practiced as sport

martial artist noun

Examples of martial art in a Sentence

He was trained in the martial arts.

Recent Examples on the Web

But Estrada, co-owner of Valor Jiu-Jitsu in Orland Park, has found a way to mesh those two diverse traits through martial arts. —Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026

Explore yoga or the martial arts. —Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026

Videos of Chinese robots performing martial arts and acrobatics are common on social media, while the Chinese robotics industry has organized a series of spectacles to show off its advances. —James Vincent, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025

The two-day celebration will include lion and dragon dancers, lantern parades, martial arts performances, a children’s activity area, vendors selling Asian food and live music. —Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for martial art

• counterpart
• apart
• depart
• flowchart
• forepart
• impart
• pushcart
• rampart
• redstart
• restart
• subpart
• sweetheart

Kids Definition

martial art

noun

: any of several arts of combat and self-defense (as karate and judo) that are widely practiced as a sport

martial artist noun