self-defense

noun

self-de·​fense ˌself-di-ˈfen(t)s 

1

: a plea of justification for the use of force or for homicide

2

: the act of defending oneself, one's property, or a close relative

Examples of self-defense in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The older brother began preparing to fight in self-defense. —Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2025

Lawyers for the Harris County traffic cop said missteps by an officer prior to an escalating event do not strip them of the right to self-defense thereafter. —Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 16 May 2025

Guns, on the one hand, make violent crime much more deadly, but at the same time, can also be used for self-defense against crime. —Jens Ludwig, Time, 15 May 2025

The vessel, decommissioned in 2003, now serves as a self-defense test ship for experimental Navy weapons. —Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for self-defense

• antisense
• commonsense
• effulgence
• frankincense
• ninepence
• nondefense
• penitence
• recommence
• recompence
• recompense
• cense
• dense

Kids Definition

self-defense

noun

self-de·​fense

ˌself-di-ˈfen(t)s

: the act of defending oneself, one's property, or a close relative

Legal Definition

self-defense

noun

self-de·​fense

ˈself-di-ˈfens

1

: the use of force to defend oneself

2

: an affirmative defense (as to a murder charge) alleging that the defendant used force necessarily to protect himself or herself because of a reasonable belief that the other party intended to inflict great bodily harm or death see also justification sense 2