world war

noun

Synonyms of world warnext
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Moscow is fighting a world war, even if Western countries won’t acknowledge it. Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026 His tenure is not only noted for helping the school navigate the Great Depression and two world wars but for doubling its enrollment from 447 to 929 and helping expand the campus by with buildings like Pfeiffer Hall and Merner Field House. Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2026 Miss Rankin was the only member of Congress to vote against American involvement in the nation’s two world wars. Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 20 May 2026 The code lasted through two world wars, the upheaval of the 1960s, the disillusionment of Watergate, and even the rise of search engines and SparkNotes. Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for world war

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of world war was in 1848

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Cite this Entry

“World war.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/world%20war. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.

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

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