prewar

adjective

pre·​war ˌprē-ˈwȯr How to pronounce prewar (audio)
variants or pre-war
: occurring or existing before a war and especially before World War II
prewar conditions
the prewar era/period/years
the country's prewar population
prewar levels of industrial production
an apartment in a prewar building

Examples of prewar 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.
Since 2020, the number of Syrians returning annually typically remained below 51,000—less than one percent of the world’s 6.8 million Syrian refugees, which encompasses more than a quarter of Syria’s prewar population. Jesse Marks, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2025 The Leland also earned its rightful place in history when, in 1937-38, the Sky Club was used by RCA Victor as a recording studio for its Bluebird label, turning out some of the most influential blues music in the prewar Chicago area. Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2025 Even Sherman’s march freed only a few per cent of the prewar slave population of Georgia and South Carolina, and across the entire Confederacy perhaps fifteen per cent of all slaves had been freed by the end of the war. Scott Spillman, The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2025 The brilliant color of prewar life has faded into a monotone cement gray that dominates the territory. Abdel Kareem Hana and Tia Goldenberg, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for prewar 

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prewar was in 1868

Dictionary Entries Near prewar

Cite this Entry

“Prewar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prewar. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

prewar

adjective
pre·​war
ˈprē-ˈwȯ(ə)r
: occurring or existing before a war

More from Merriam-Webster on prewar

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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