wartime

noun

war·​time ˈwȯr-ˌtīm 

often attributive

: a period during which a war is in progress

rationing during wartime

Examples of wartime in a Sentence

Many goods were rationed during wartime.

Recent Examples on the Web

The shelter was built last year in an effort to keep classes going during wartime, but many civilians have since left as the fighting got closer to the village, and it is not currently used as a school. — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2026

The United States later adopted daylight saving time in an effort to conserve fuel and energy during wartime, The Sacramento Bee previously reported. — Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Mykola Murskyj, senior adviser on policy and strategy at the nonprofit organization Razom for Ukraine, told the Washington Examiner that Zelensky isn’t just arbitrarily clinging to power — the entire country is wary of voting during wartime. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026

For Richard Christiansen, founder of the lifestyle brand Flamingo Estate, Pleasure Principles first began as a book about victory gardens, the gardens planted by citizens during wartime. — Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for wartime

• airtime
• bedtime
• daytime
• downtime
• enzyme
• halftime
• lifetime
• longtime
• lunchtime
• mealtime
• meantime
• nighttime

Kids Definition

wartime

noun

war·​time ˈwȯ(ə)r-ˌtīm 

: a period when a war is going on