self-defence
Britishnoun
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the act of defending oneself, one's actions, ideas, etc
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boxing as a means of defending the person (esp in the phrase noble art of self-defence )
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law the right to defend one's person, family, or property against attack or threat of attack by the use of no more force than is reasonable
Other Word Forms
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In the face of such developments, it was the "steadfast stand" of the North to "further expand and strengthen the powerful and absolutely reliable deterrent for self-defence", Kim said.
From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026
The US commitment to Taiwan's security "remains unchanged", Lai said, adding that both sides "share the goal of strengthening security and accelerating efforts to strengthen Taiwan's self-defence capabilities".
From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026
He claimed that Cuba acted in "legitimate self-defence within its jurisdictional waters".
From BBC ● May 20, 2026
The brothers told the court they had acted in lawful self-defence, or in defence of the other.
From BBC ● May 20, 2026
It acts in self-defence: and its peculiar style or weapon of self-defence is an idea or representation.
From Hegel's Philosophy of Mind by Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
