martial art

noun

: any of several arts of combat and self-defense (such as karate and judo) that are widely practiced as sport
martial artist noun

Examples of martial art in a Sentence

He was trained in the martial arts.
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.
One of the main differences between the two martial arts video games is that Street Fighter debuted in 1987, while Mortal Kombat followed in pizza parlors and arcades in 1992. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026 From that point on, this martial arts video game adaptation becomes disastrously scattered, between setups and payoffs at complete odds, confounding ADR, and a total lack of any actual conclusion. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026 Dilraba Dilmurat plays the team’s star striker, while Lay Zhang serves as its kung fu mentor, helping the players combine martial arts mastery with soccer skills to overcome formidable opponents and setbacks on and off the field. — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026 Butler, 61, who owns a construction company and a martial arts school, said property taxes and the budget are among the county’s top issues. — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for martial art

Word History

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of martial art was in 1904

Rhymes for martial art

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Browse Nearby Words

Martial
martial art
martial eagle
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Cite this Entry

“Martial art.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/martial%20art. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

martial art

noun
: any of several arts of combat and self-defense (as karate and judo) that are widely practiced as a sport
martial artist noun

More from Merriam-Webster on martial art

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about martial art

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