warfare

noun

war·​fare ˈwȯr-ˌfer 

1

: military operations between enemies : hostilities, war

also : an activity undertaken by a political unit (such as a nation) to weaken or destroy another

economic warfare

2

: struggle between competing entities : conflict

see also biological warfare, chemical warfare, cyber warfare, germ warfare, trench warfare

Synonyms

• war
• strife
• discord
• conflict
• friction
• discordance
• discordancy
• schism
• dissention
• dissent

Examples of warfare in a Sentence

that troubled household seems to be almost constantly in a state of warfare

companies engaged in constant warfare for dominance in the market for smart phones and tablets

Recent Examples on the Web

Zelensky said Russia is planning two more heavy offensives after three previous attempts failed and that allies must sustain production of drones and electronic warfare systems and keep weapons and funding flowing to support Ukraine. —Brendan Cole john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025

Sappers Will Get Robotic Support Drone warfare and robotics are also reshaping the dangerous business of mine clearance. —David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025

At least one Ukrainian drone has also crashed in Estonia, which Tallinn said was sent off course by Russian electronic warfare measures. —David Brennan, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2025

Ukraine’s drone units, like Adama’s, have pioneered one of the most consequential innovations in modern warfare. —Ken Harbaugh, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from werre, warre war + fare journey, passage — more at fare

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing warfare

• biological warfare
• chemical warfare
• cyber warfare
• germ warfare
• psychological warfare
• trench warfare

Rhymes for warfare

• abwehr
• affair
• affaire
• airfare
• altair
• armchair
• aware
• beware
• bugbear
• carfare
• childcare
• compare

Kids Definition

warfare

noun

war·​fare ˈwȯr-ˌfa(ə)r 

-ˌfe(ə)r

1

a

: military fighting between enemies : war

b

: activity undertaken by one country or group to weaken or destroy another

economic warfare

2

: a struggle between competitors : conflict

industrial warfare