self-protection

noun

self-pro·​tec·​tion ˌself-prə-ˈtek-shən How to pronounce self-protection (audio)
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
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.
Roan has been vocal about her struggles with fandom, cancelling shows for self-protection and using awards speeches to call out the industry’s lack of care for its talent. Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025 More often than not, cultural conditioning and self-protection encourage us to be vague or passive about desire in relationships. Colin Bedell, Them, 3 Mar. 2025 Your strategy for self-protection can save you from falling apart over the caregiving journey. Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025 His position that requires superhuman capacities for discernment, judgment, manipulation, and self-protection—capacities demanded and cultivated in smaller amounts in everyday citizens. Philip Tinari, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for self-protection

Word History

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-protection was in 1635

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-protection.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-protection. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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!