jujitsu

noun

ju·​jit·​su
variants or less commonly jujutsu or jiujitsu
: an art of weaponless fighting employing holds, throws, and paralyzing blows to subdue or disable an opponent

Examples of jujitsu in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The filmmaker arrived in Los Angeles in the early ‘90s, offering to teach jujitsu at a martial arts school in exchange for a place to crash. Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Dec. 2024 Joining me on the vessel was Alejandro Mira, a veterinarian from Medellín, and Joshua Wilson, an American jujitsu champion and world traveler who had hitched a ride with Mira and me and was sharing the experience with his followers on social media. Joshua Hammer, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 June 2024 All these techniques are a form of psychological jujitsu that turns vulnerabilities into strengths. Elke U. Weber, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2020 UConn then edged Villanova 66-65 in a physical game that had coach Dan Hurley talking about jujitsu, Muay Thai and UFC fighting. John Marshall, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for jujitsu 

Word History

Etymology

Japanese jūjutsu, from weakness, gentleness + jutsu art, skill

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of jujitsu was in 1875

Dictionary Entries Near jujitsu

Cite this Entry

“Jujitsu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jujitsu. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

jujitsu

noun
ju·​jit·​su
variants or jujutsu or jiujitsu or jiujutsu
jü-ˈjit-sü
: the Japanese art of unarmed fighting using holds, throws, and paralyzing blows

More from Merriam-Webster on jujitsu

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!