war party

noun

1
: a group of American Indians on the warpath
2
: a usually jingoistic political party advocating or upholding a war

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Tribal dancers, a war party waving spears and shrunken head dealer Trader Sam have been removed from the seven-minute Jungle Cruise journey. Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 10 July 2021 Of obscure background, Riothamus (or Riotimus) is mentioned in Roman histories as leading a war party in Brittany, the Celtic province in the north of France, supporting Roman troops in a campaign against the Goths around the year 470. Jack Feerick, Discover Magazine, 12 Mar. 2021 According to one account, the carnage started when one village sent a war party to raid another. New York Times, 2 Nov. 2021 Typically, a war party would strike against traditional enemies, bringing back a few scalps and a small number of prisoners. David Graeber, Harper's Magazine, 26 Oct. 2021 The war party made for Shawnee villages north of the Ohio River, where the girls likely would have been adopted into the tribe or held for ransom. Peter Cozzens, WSJ, 27 Sep. 2021 After three days of pursuit, Boone and his men stole upon the war party, saved the girls and killed two of the warriors. Peter Cozzens, WSJ, 27 Sep. 2021 Around 1750, a large Ojibwe war party armed with French guns and powder attacked a Dakota village at Mille Lacs Lake (Bde Wakhang in the Dakota language) from the north. New York Times, 31 Aug. 2021 Roughly 100 years after the war party’s attack, a Dakota entourage arrived in Mille Lacs bearing a ceremonial gift for the Ojibwe who had conquered them, a shocking kind of grace in the face of grief and loss. New York Times, 31 Aug. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'war party.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1755, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of war party was in 1755

Dictionary Entries Near war party

Cite this Entry

“War party.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/war%20party. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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