tae kwon do

noun

ˈtī-ˈkwän-ˈdō How to pronounce tae kwon do (audio)
variants often Tae Kwon do
: a Korean art of unarmed self-defense characterized especially by the extensive use of kicks

Examples of tae kwon do 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.
He’s trained in tae kwon do and mixed martial arts. — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 10 Apr. 2026 Wearable sensors detect clean hits in a bout of fencing or a round of tae kwon do. — Bree Iskandar, Scientific American, 25 July 2024 At 12, Sauvie has earned a black belt in tae kwon do, danced competitively and plays the snare drum in her middle school band. — Stephanie Gallman Jordan, Southern Living, 5 July 2024 The studio has since closed, but Cardenas has achieved his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and is a 5th degree black belt in tae kwon do. — Alex Gurley, Peoplemag, 18 Apr. 2023 See All Example Sentences for tae kwon do

Word History

Etymology

Korean t'aekwŏndo, from t'ae- to kick + kwŏn fist + to way

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tae kwon do was in 1967

Rhymes for tae kwon do

See All Rhymes for tae kwon do

Browse Nearby Words

Taedong
tae kwon do
tael
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tae kwon do.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tae%20kwon%20do. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tae kwon do

noun
ˈtī-ˈkwän-ˈdō How to pronounce tae kwon do (audio)
often capitalized T&K&D
: a Korean art of self-defense resembling karate

More from Merriam-Webster on tae kwon do

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tae kwon do

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