: a form of fighting that was developed in Japan in which your feet and hands are used to kick and hit an opponent : a Japanese martial art
—often used before another noun
karate chops/kicks
Cite this Entry
“Karate.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/karate. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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