karate

noun

ka·​ra·​te kə-ˈrä-tē 

: a Japanese art of self-defense employing hand strikes and kicks to disable or subdue an opponent

karateist

kə-ˈrä-tē-ist 

noun

Examples of karate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When Li enters the Five Boroughs karate tournament, Han ventures to Southern California to find Daniel, thinking the best way for his student to win is to combine kung fu skills with Miyagi karate. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025

Separately, a karate match between Shiv and his friend Simon ends with an injury, sparking a bitter feud between the two families that gradually escalates into a psychological war of revenge. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025

My favorite is the karate chop to the neck by skinny guys like Martin Landau. —Rich Heldenfels, Boston Herald, 2 Mar. 2025

Despite showcasing his karate skills on screen for decades, Macchio admitted to Fox News Digital he’s never been in a fight in real life. —Stephanie Giang-Paunon, Fox News, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Japanese, from kara empty + te hand

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for karate

• dotty
• doughty
• draughty
• haughty
• knotty
• naughty
• potty
• scottie
• spotty
• strati
• zloty
• basmati

Kids Definition

karate

noun

ka·​ra·​te kə-ˈrät-ē 

: a Japanese art of self-defense without a weapon

Etymology

from Japanese karate, literally, "empty hand"