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self-defense
[ self-di-fens, self- ]
/ ˈsɛlf dɪˈfɛns, ˌsɛlf- /
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noun
the act of defending one's person when physically attacked, as by countering blows or overcoming an assailant: the art of self-defense.
a claim or plea that the use of force or injuring or killing another was necessary in defending one's own person from physical attack: He shot the man who was trying to stab him and pleaded self-defense at the murder trial.
an act or instance of defending or protecting one's own interests, property, ideas, etc., as by argument or strategy.
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Also British, self-de·fence .
Origin of self-defense
First recorded in 1645–55
OTHER WORDS FROM self-defense
self-de·fen·sive, adjectiveWords nearby self-defense
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022