world war

noun

: a war engaged in by all or most of the principal nations of the world

especially, World War : either of two such wars of the first half of the 20th century

Examples of world war in a Sentence

He fought in both World Wars.

The nations were prepared for world war.

Recent Examples on the Web

Arizona’s industrial economy is the product of two world wars — and TSMC’s investment in the state is part of a trade war with China, a 21st-century arms race where the end goal is not a nuclear bomb but something critics say is akin to it. — Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 29 Oct. 2026

In the Soviet Union, scientific interest in telepathy stemmed not only from a sense of general techno-optimism shared by many countries both before and after the two world wars, but also from beliefs and aspirations particular to communist society. — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 28 Oct. 2026

The United Kingdom won the two world wars but bankrupted itself in victory. — Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2026

There was rampant looting in Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux and other cities, while the city hall in Limoges, which survived two world wars, was badly damaged by fire and its clock spire collapsed. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for world war

• abhor
• abor
• adore
• afore
• ardour
• ashore
• backdoor
• before
• bookstore
• candour
• centaur
• claymore

Kids Definition

world war

noun

: a war involving all or most of the chief nations of the world

especially, capitalized both Ws : either of two such wars of the 20th century