wartime

noun

war·​time ˈwȯr-ˌtīm 

often attributive

: a period during which a war is in progress

rationing during wartime

Examples of wartime in a Sentence

Many goods were rationed during wartime.

Recent Examples on the Web

Modern-day passport controls date back to World War I, originally conceived of as a temporary measure to regulate mass movement of people during wartime. — Andrew Nachemson, The Dial, 22 Sep. 2026

The Articles of Confederation set up a framework that was OK during wartime but too weak for building a new nation. — Sandra Slater, The Conversation, 21 Sep. 2026

Vyacheslav Prokofyev | Afp | Getty Images Russian President Vladimir Putin is bracing for a wartime reckoning as the Kremlin prepares to hold its first parliamentary election since the country's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. — Sam Meredith,anniek Bao, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026

No European commanders, for example, have the same kind of experience at leading large formations in wartime or at coordinating and training many countries’ militaries, as do their American counterparts. — Franklin C. Miller, Foreign Affairs, 15 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for wartime

• airtime
• bedtime
• daytime
• downtime
• enzyme
• halftime
• lifetime
• longtime
• lunchtime
• mealtime
• meantime
• nighttime

Kids Definition

wartime

noun

war·​time ˈwȯ(ə)r-ˌtīm 

: a period when a war is going on