definitions

duty to retreat

[ doo-tee tuh ri-treet, dyoo-tee ]
/ ˈdu ti tə rɪˈtrit, ˈdyu ti /

noun Law.

a legal principle that requires a person as a first response to back away or flee from a threatening situation rather than attempt self-defense by deadly force: Duty to retreat has always been a debatable doctrine.

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Nearby words

dutifully, dutton, duty, duty bound, duty officer, duty to retreat, duty-bound, duty-free, duty-free shop, duumvir, duumvirate
Compare stand your ground.

Origin of duty to retreat

First recorded in 1780–90
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019