world war

noun

Synonyms of world warnext
: 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
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.
The market became a place where the neighborhood met and ate through the Great Depression and world wars. Noelle Alviz-Gransee march 16, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2026 Michigan’s oldest resident, Bonita Gibson, who lived through two world wars, the Great Depression, the rise of modern technology and other major events during a life that spanned more than a century, died on March 10. Nour Rahal, Freep.com, 13 Mar. 2026 The restaurant has been owned by a handful of different families who navigated world wars, prohibition, and global pandemics, moving locations just twice but always staying on Decatur Street. Stephanie Gallman Jordan, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2026 Fears that attacks on Iran could trigger a more widespread world war were unfounded. Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for world war

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of world war was in 1848

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“World war.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/world%20war. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.

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

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