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 In a war in which the battle lines have moved little in the past year, any kernel of information can provide an edge. Kostiantyn Khudov, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024 The panel's approval of a new state House map establishes the battle lines in Michigan's electoral landscape with several months to go until elections this fall to decide which party will control the chamber. Detroit Free Press, 27 Mar. 2024 But political battle lines are being drawn around the EV transition. Ella Nilsen, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024 New battle lines are being drawn, but some states urged everyone to come back to the negotiating table to hash out a compromise all seven states could agree on, and the federal government will eventually approve. Ella Nilsen, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024 After months of city meetings capped by one held outdoors in a snowstorm, the battle lines were drawn in one of metro Detroit's most upscale neighborhoods. Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 6 Feb. 2024 Supervisor seats are officially nonpartisan, but one needn’t look deeply to find usual partisan battle lines. The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 2 Feb. 2024 Nonetheless, after eight years of populist rule that hardened the battle lines of Polish politics, much of the public is spoiling for a fight. Rob Picheta, CNN, 27 Jan. 2024 The assessment that battle lines have mostly stagnated and that the war is one of grinding attrition, with little forward movement by either side, is now widely accepted as fact. David L. Stern, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'battle line.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near battle line

Cite this Entry

“Battle line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/battle%20line. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.

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