self-defense
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self-defense
The defense that is necessary to ward off a present, unlawful attack against oneself or another person. It is a legal term for self-defense.
Er handelte aus Notwehr, als er den Angreifer von sich stieß.
He acted in self-defense when he pushed the attacker away from him.
The word is made up of 'Not' (distress, emergency situation) and 'Wehr'. 'Wehr' is derived from the verb 'sich wehren' (to defend oneself). 'Notwehr' therefore literally means 'defense in an emergency situation'.
Die Abwehr des Angriffs war reine Notwehr.
Repelling the attack was pure self-defense.
By far the most common use is the fixed expression 'aus Notwehr handeln' (to act in self-defense). It describes that an action was justified by the necessity of defense.
Das Gericht entschied, dass der Angeklagte aus Notwehr gehandelt hatte.
The court decided that the defendant had acted in self-defense.
'Notwehr' is a precise term from the legal system, specifically from criminal law. It describes a situation in which an otherwise punishable act is permitted.
Im Gesetz ist genau definiert, was als Notwehr gilt.
The law defines exactly what counts as self-defense.
defense
'Verteidigung' and 'Notwehr' both have to do with protection against an attack. 'Verteidigung' is the general term and can refer to many kinds of protection, for example in sports, in war, or in personal danger. 'Notwehr' is more specific and usually legal: someone defends themselves or another person against a present, unlawful attack. The words can be confused because every case of 'Notwehr' is a form of 'Verteidigung'. But not every 'Verteidigung' is 'Notwehr'. 'Notwehr' only fits when it is about a concrete danger and the legal permission to defend against it.
Der Gast schlug nur zurück, weil er in Notwehr handelte.
The guest only hit back because he was acting in self-defense.
Für die Verteidigung des Gebäudes wurden zusätzliche Sicherheitsleute eingesetzt.
Additional security guards were deployed to defend the building.