war zone

noun

1

: a zone in which belligerents are waging war

broadly : an area marked by extreme violence

2

: a designated area especially on the high seas within which rights of neutrals are not respected by a belligerent nation in time of war

Examples of war zone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Chicago is either a war zone quickly spiraling out of control, or a peaceful city under siege by an overreaching federal government. —Ben Smith, semafor.com, 17 Oct. 2025

McKay, a geopolitical analyst, journalist, war reporter, author and humanitarian will discuss her experience covering warfare, terrorism and crimes against humanity in major war zones around the world. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025

Later administrations expanded the same playbook, flooding cities with narcotics units and federal task forces that treated Black communities as war zones. —Josiah Bates, Time, 14 Oct. 2025

An American from Hawaii found himself in a war zone, witness to a unique moment in history. —Noa Tishby, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for war zone

• alone
• atone
• backbone
• bemoan
• bluestone
• breastbone
• brownstone
• capstone
• cheekbone
• condone
• curbstone
• cyclone