casus belli

ca·sus bel·li

noun
\ˈkä-səs-ˈbe-ˌlē, ˈkā-səs-ˈbe-ˌlī\

plural ca·sus belli\ˈkä-ˌsüs-, ˈkā-ˌsüs-\

Definition of CASUS BELLI

: an event or action that justifies or allegedly justifies a war or conflict

Origin of CASUS BELLI

New Latin, occasion of war

First Known Use: circa 1841

Rhymes with CASUS BELLI

Adar Sheni, advanced degree, Aegean Sea, Agri Dagi, alienee, Amundsen Sea, biographee, bouquet garni, carpenter bee, Caspian Sea, charcuterie, charivari, chincherinchee, chinoiserie, consent decree, covenantee, cucumber tree, decision tree, dedicatee, delegatee, distributee, East China Sea, ESOP, evacuee, examinee, exuviae, facetiae, fait accompli, felo-de-se, fortunately, HTLV, interrogee, interviewee, jaborandi, Labrador Sea, millidegree, New Jersey tea, omega-3, Pasiphaë, patisserie, persecutee, poète maudit, prima facie, reliquiae, relocatee, Sault Sainte Marie, Simon Legree, skeleton key, South China Sea, to a degree, umbrella tree, wayfaring tree