To save this word, you'll need to log in.
Definition of holy war
: a war or violent campaign waged often by religious extremists for what is considered to be a holy purpose
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on holy war
What made you want to look up holy war? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
January 2020 Words of the Day Quiz
- Which is a synonym of bonhomie?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
- January 2020 Words of the Day Quiz
Word of the Day quiz returns (again!)
Take the quiz - Intact Latin Quiz
What did each of these words mean to ancient Romans?
Take the quiz - Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz - Syn City
Build a city of skyscrapers—one synonym at a time.
Play the game
Share holy war
Time Traveler for holy war
The first known use of holy war was in 1639
See more words from the same year