state of war

noun phrase

1
a
: a state of actual armed hostilities regardless of a formal declaration of war
b
: a legal state created and ended by official declaration regardless of actual armed hostilities and usually characterized by operation of the rules of war
2
: the period of time during which a state of war is in effect

Examples of state of war 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.
All of that research and development has been vital over the last year as Israel has been in a state of war. Mike Brest, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 29 Oct. 2024 North and South Korea are separated by one of the world’s most militarized borders and remain technically in a state of war. Yoonjung Seo, CNN, 23 Oct. 2024 First, the next president should formally begin the process of resolving the fundamental issue, the enduring technical state of war since the 1953 Armistice, which paused but did not end the Korean War. Christine Ahn, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2024 Some types of emergencies — for a state of war, or arising from a fire or flood — would not expire automatically. Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 16 Oct. 2024 Israel declared a state of war the day after the attack and launched air strikes, followed by a ground invasion, on Gaza. Sara Dorn, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2024 After the end of the Korean War in 1953, a formal peace treaty was never signed between the two Koreas, leaving them technically in a state of war. Nectar Gan, CNN, 23 June 2024 This vicious cycle keeps incarcerated people and jail staff in a chronic state of war with each other, and increases violence after people return to the community. Dr. James Gilligan, New York Daily News, 18 Jan. 2024 Besides, how can a Russian family plan for the future in a permanent state of war? Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 7 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of state of war was in 1634

Dictionary Entries Near state of war

Cite this Entry

“State of war.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/state%20of%20war. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!