war zone

noun

|Updated on: 10 Aug 2018

Definition of war zone

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

Recent Examples of war zone from the Web

The injured dogs come from all over the world — from military duty stations and war zones in Afghanistan and Iraq — to receive cutting-edge care here.

— vincent t. davis, San Antonio Express-News, "One-of-a-kind hospital in San Antonio treats military dogs injured in line of duty," 28 June 2018
Today, Mexico is one of the most violent countries in the world outside of active war zones.

— martha pskowski, The New Republic, "The Radical Amnesty Plan of Mexico’s Next President," 2 July 2018
Those war zones remain dangerous but, after years of U.S. operations, have a more robust network of fire support, aerial surveillance, medical help and quick-reaction rescue units when a crisis erupts.

— dan lamothe, Washington Post, "Pentagon grapples with a thorny question after Niger ambush: What next in Africa?," 19 Mar. 2018
Founded by two Rangers - Matthew Griffin and Donald Lee, this company has an amazing mission and has already made a significant difference in war zones.

— allison barrie, Fox News, "Top patriotic BBQ gear for July 4," 3 July 2018
Fulfilling the constitutional duty of a free press is not without risk — at home, in war zones, around the globe.

— greg burton, azcentral, "Threats and attacks on journalists aren't rare. They also don't deter us.," 30 June 2018
Most of the would-be crossers are from the Northern Triangle of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, where murder rates exceed those in war zones.

— henry gass, The Christian Science Monitor, "On US-Mexican border, the rules change, but human impulses don't," 21 June 2018
Best known for its Roomba vacuum cleaner, the company makes many other product as well—such as robots that defuse IEDs and other deadly contraptions in war zones.

— rob reid, Ars Technica, "Ars on your lunch break, part one: Rodney Brooks and robot ethics," 20 June 2018
One Saturday afternoon in summer, the house felt like a war zone.

— brian gresko, Longreads, "Wrestling With My Father," 12 June 2018

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

First Known Use of war zone

1914

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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