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.
self-defense
Notwehr and Selbstverteidigung can both refer to warding off an attack against oneself. Notwehr is the legal term and refers to a present, unlawful attack; Selbstverteidigung is the more general expression for physical self-defense. Use Notwehr when discussing the legal assessment and Selbstverteidigung in general conversation.
Vor Gericht erklärte der Mann, er habe aus Notwehr gehandelt.
In court, the man stated that he had acted in self-defense.
Im Kurs lernte sie einfache Techniken zur Selbstverteidigung.
In the course, she learned basic self-defense techniques.
