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
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Derived 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.
Under the deal, Israel retains its "right to take all necessary measures in self-defence, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks".
From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026
The alleged plot began early last month, when authorities say Heifler took part in a 10 February video call with a "self-defence" group that included an undercover law enforcement officer.
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026
Grace said at the time that she had acted in self-defence after she was attacked in the room where Bellarmine and Robert Jr lived.
From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026
Macron said French forces had downed drones "in self-defence" during the opening hours of the conflict.
From Barron's • Mar. 3, 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.
