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

The company’s robots made their high-profile debut during China’s 2025 Spring Festival gala, captivating audiences with humanoids capable of walking, running, and performing martial arts. — Yue Wang, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

At the same time, Singaporean kuda kepang has started to incorporate other cultural forms—such as local styles of the regional martial art silat—into its performances. — H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 7 Aug. 2026

Her workouts typically consist of strength exercises, mixed with martial arts and outdoor activities like hiking and running. — Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026

Bursting into Hong Kong’s fabled world of martial arts action cinema with titles like Yes, Madam! — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026

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