battle line

noun

1
: a line along which a battle is fought
2
: a line defining the positions of opposing groups in a conflict or controversy
usually used in plural
battle lines were drawn over economic policies

Examples of battle line 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.
Here’s how the battle lines are being drawn, and why key Republicans are defecting from the party line. Andrew R. Chow, Time, 25 June 2025 The main battle lines will thus be drawn along the Arctic seabed, in international waters, and en route to outer space. Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025 And with the next round of Charter Agreements expected to shape the sport’s financial future for a decade, the battle lines are only getting deeper. Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025 As the nation’s battle lines sharpen on immigration, tension engulfs farmworkers who, in many respects, embody the fraught, sometimes contradictory nature of the debate. Ana Ley, New York Times, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for battle line

Word History

First Known Use

1751, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of battle line was in 1751

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Cite this Entry

“Battle line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/battle%20line. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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