karate

noun

ka·​ra·​te kə-ˈrä-tē How to pronounce karate (audio)
: a Japanese art of self-defense employing hand strikes and kicks to disable or subdue an opponent
karateist noun

Examples of karate 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.
William Hovel, Poway High School’s 2025 valedictorian, balances his interests in engineering and robotics with tennis and karate. Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025 But not just any karate – karate from Mr. Miyagi, Han’s old friend and Daniel's beloved teacher. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 29 May 2025 There’s a hacker, an explosives girl, a guy who uses knives, two siblings who just…do karate and then a girl in a massive mech suit. Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025 His part-time job is teaching karate to 4- to 12-year-olds at Seven Spears Martial Arts Academy in Poway. Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for karate

Word History

Etymology

Japanese, from kara empty + te hand

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of karate was in 1926

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Karate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/karate. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

karate

noun
ka·​ra·​te kə-ˈrät-ē How to pronounce karate (audio)
: a Japanese art of self-defense without a weapon
Etymology

from Japanese karate, literally, "empty hand"

More from Merriam-Webster on karate

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