self-defense

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.

After a WSJ series last year revealed police overlooked evidence that raised questions about the officers’ self-defense claim, a state grand jury is currently reviewing evidence of alleged misconduct.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

This includes Massachusetts, where courts consider factors such as the characteristics of any weapon used when evaluating whether a self-defense shooting was proportional.

From Slate • Mar. 27, 2026

The agents involved in the shootings have not spoken publicly, but a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security defended Good’s shooting, saying the agent acted in self-defense.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

But self-defense is far from being embraced as a collective civic duty in Taiwan.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

Nearly every cellular function—metabolism, respiration, cell division, self-defense, waste disposal, secretion, signaling, growth, even cellular death—requires proteins.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee