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

Every year across the nation, Belgium’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Destruction Service responds to more than 3,000 calls and disposes of 200 to 250 tons of munitions left over from both world wars. — Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

Born in 1946, in a country recovering from a civil war and a world war, Rodríguez entered a life marked by poverty in the southern Spanish village of Añora. — Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026

But for the most part, today’s athletes weren’t shaped by the Great Depression and a world war. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2026

Will the city of Halberstadt, which has already lived through two world wars, survive climate change? — ABC News, 5 Aug. 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