Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

self-defense

/sˌɛlfdɪfˈɛns/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.76 in modern English

Syllables: self--de-fense
IPA: /sˌɛlfdɪfˈɛns/

18

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

4

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The means of defending oneself from physical attack.

Uncountable

noun

The right to protect oneself against violence by using reasonable force, which can be used as justification in several charges including murder, assault, and battery.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

"Nearly all the women are wearing a hijab, one of the reasons they’re in this self-defense class in Antioch, Tennessee, a community nestled next to Nashville. For three hours, these Muslim women learn Krav Maga and Brazilian jiu-jitsu defense moves, including kicks, punches and elbow strikes that will help them escape an attacker."
"The case inspired widespread rallies and “Million Hoodie Marches” in early 2012, after Sanford, Fla., police refused to charge Zimmerman with a crime, saying they couldn’t counter his self-defense claim. A special state prosecutor indicted him 44 days later. The trial began June 10."

Etymology

From self- + defense. First used by Hobbes in the 1650s.

Usage

Uncountable

Inflected Forms

self-defenses (plural) self defense (alternative) self-defence (alternative) self defence (alternative)

Phrases

self-defensive stand-your-ground law castle doctrine

Frequently Paired Words

stand-your-ground law castle doctrine

Synonyms

self-defence self-protection

Homonyms

self-defence

Rhymes With

sense defense defence self-defence intense hence offense expense fence dense tense immense

Questions

How do you pronounce self-defense?: The recorded pronunciation is /sˌɛlfdɪfˈɛns/.
What does self-defense mean?: The means of defending oneself from physical attack.
Where does self-defense come from?: From self- + defense. First used by Hobbes in the 1650s.

How to pronounce self-defense

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “self-defense”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/sˌɛlfdɪfˈɛns/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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