prewar

adjective

pre·​war ˌprē-ˈwȯr How to pronounce prewar (audio)
variants or pre-war
: occurring or existing before a war and especially before World War II
prewar conditions
the prewar era/period/years
the country's prewar population
prewar levels of industrial production
an apartment in a prewar building

Examples of prewar 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.
What made Patience Wright and Franklin friends initially was a bond over their prewar celebrity as American geniuses who took London by storm. Literary Hub, 17 July 2025 Some of the most expensive homes in the country are consistently those located in dense, vibrant prewar cities, a clear signal that there’s high demand for those amenities. Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 7 July 2025 Through the park fence, across Essex Street, and up on the sixth floor of a prewar building hung their small, dim apartment. Literary Hub, 30 June 2025 Kindly caretakers of youths in prewar times (Judge Hardy in the Hardy films helps his aw-shucks son navigate chaste first kisses, etc.) retreat from view. Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for prewar

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prewar was in 1868

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Cite this Entry

“Prewar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prewar. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

prewar

adjective
pre·​war
ˈprē-ˈwȯ(ə)r
: occurring or existing before a war

More from Merriam-Webster on prewar

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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