self-protection

noun

self-pro·​tec·​tion ˌself-prə-ˈtek-shən 

plural self-protections

: the act of protecting oneself, one's property, or one's group : self-defense

kept a bat under the bed for self-protection

… found that conflict-affected communities often develop sophisticated self-protection strategies …

—Lisa Fuller

GEMINI … A painful past makes you guard your feelings, but such self-protection can lead to isolation and missed opportunities.

—Harper's Bazaar

—sometimes used before another noun

self-protection techniques

a self-protection seminar

Examples of self-protection in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Beyond self-protection, some people are hiding their financial situations out of shame. —Tanyel Mustafa, refinery29.com, 8 Oct. 2024

The argument for gun ownership as a form of self-protection is challenged by the ugly reality that guns are all too often implicated in domestic violence incidents and accidental shootings. —Iain Overton, Foreign Affairs, 24 Apr. 2016

From the perspective of the industry and its allies, the shift to more dangerous weapons and a focus on self-protection paid off. —Arthur L. Kellermann, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024

So not being the lead in the show is an act of self-protection in a way? —Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 9 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined above