The Collaborative International Dictionary
Self-defense \Self`-de*fense"\, n. The act of defending one's own person, property, or reputation.
In self-defense (Law), in protection of self, -- it being
permitted in law to a party on whom a grave wrong is
attempted to resist the wrong, even at the peril of the
life of the assailiant.
--Wharton.
Usage examples of "in self-defense".
She choked, swallowed in self-defense, and felt his tongue dance lightly over hers.
Not murder, not as long as the lad used it only in self-defense or in the proper defense of another, such as Jill.
Fire at the enemy-but loose your bolts in self-defense, not wrath.
He straightened his arm out, more in self-defense than in anything else, and the Wart smacked his own eye upon the end of it.
Hartmann would try to have them all killed, and in self-defense they would speak.