self-protection

noun

self-pro·​tec·​tion ˌself-prə-ˈtek-shən 

plural self-protections

: the act of protecting oneself, one's property, or one's group : self-defense

kept a bat under the bed for self-protection

… found that conflict-affected communities often develop sophisticated self-protection strategies …

—Lisa Fuller

GEMINI … A painful past makes you guard your feelings, but such self-protection can lead to isolation and missed opportunities.

—Harper's Bazaar

—sometimes used before another noun

self-protection techniques

a self-protection seminar

Examples of self-protection in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Nostalgia, as Sheeran learns, sometimes reopens wounds and invites emotional gut punches previously buried for self-protection. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025

With thoughtful leadership, organizations can shift Gen Z from self-protection to meaningful contribution. —Ruth Oh Reitmeier, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

The troops are authorized to use their weapons for self-protection. —Jeremy Mikula, NBC news, 24 Aug. 2025

Target an initial force of 5,000 experts, with self-protection capability working at all levels (with higher priority than that of tactical, front-line) with the Ukrainian military. —James Stavridis, Twin Cities, 19 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-protection

• circumspection
• disaffection
• disconnection
• disinfection
• dorsiflexion
• imperfection
• indirection
• insurrection
• intellection
• interjection
• intersection
• introjection