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

McLaughlin said the agents fired their service weapons at the driver in self-defense. —Doha Madani, NBC news, 25 Dec. 2025

Gale Bryan is a self-defense instructor in the San Diego metro area. —Kris Slugg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2025

Instead, the aim could be to get Reiner an acquittal based on an insanity or self-defense claim, or to try to reduce the case all the way down to manslaughter. —Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025

Likewise, 11 Black Arkansans who had gathered in a log cabin for self-defense were charged with, and convicted of, nightriding following the Catcher Race Riot of 1923; the baselessness of this charge was too much for the Arkansas Supreme Court, which overturned their conviction the following year. —Arkansas Online, 20 Dec. 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