-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
world war
noun
: a war engaged in by all or most of the principal nations of the world
especially,
World War
: either of two such wars of the first half of the 20th century
Examples of world war in a Sentence
He fought in both World Wars.
The nations were prepared for world war.
Recent Examples on the Web
The South Koreans have pledged to arm Ukraine if North Korean troops fight there, raising the complicated prospect of an Asian proxy war in Europe – again something that would have been inconceivable years ago, and that also tilts us towards the notion of a world war.
—Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Her sudden death, at 39, just a few weeks after the album’s recording, tempts a retrospective reading of ((world war)).
—Pitchfork, 1 Oct. 2024
Witness to History Born just months after the Titanic sank, Tinniswood lived through two world wars and served in the British Army Pay Corps during World War II.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024
That was the lesson of the conferences at Versailles, Yalta, and Potsdam after the two world wars: to the negotiator go the spoils.
—Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for world war
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.
Word History
First Known Use
1848, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near world war
Cite this Entry
“World war.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/world%20war. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
world war
noun
: a war involving all or most of the chief nations of the world
especially, capitalized both Ws
: either of two such wars of the 20th century
More from Merriam-Webster on world war
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for world war
Britannica English: Translation of world war for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share