Definition of cold war
1
: a conflict over ideological differences carried on by methods short of sustained overt military action and usually without breaking off diplomatic relations;
specifically,
often capitalized C&W
: the ideological conflict between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. during the second half of the 20th century — compare hot war
2
: a condition of rivalry, mistrust, and often open hostility short of violence especially between power groups (such as labor and management)
