battleship
Americannoun
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any of a class of warships that are the most heavily armored and are equipped with the most powerful armament.
noun
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a heavily armoured warship of the largest type having many large-calibre guns
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(formerly) a warship of sufficient size and armament to take her place in the line of battle; ship of the line
Etymology
Origin of battleship
Compare meaning
How does battleship compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A battleship is a very large, seagoing military vessel. A battleship is prepared for war, being protected by heavy armor and equipped with guns. Today's modern military doesn't often use battleships — you're more likely to find a battleship in a harbor being explored by tourists. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, battleships were the most modern, powerful kind of boat on the water, and they were used during both World Wars by various countries' navies. The game Battleship, which shares a name with these warships, has been around in one form or another since the 1930s.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
One of the games, Battleship, is also played in the reality show and emphasizes the importance of luck in “Squid Game.”
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2023
The anime creator known for ”Space Battleship Yamato” and other classics using a fantastical style and antiwar themes.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 3, 2023
In 1999, a number of bronze statues were erected in Japan's port city of Tsuruga, each depicting a character or scene from Space Battleship Yamato and Galaxy Express 999.
From BBC • Feb. 20, 2023
Tony Gregory, president of the Battleship Texas Foundation, said the process of pulling the ship by tugboats and getting it on its way went perfectly.
From Washington Times • Aug. 31, 2022
He was ranting at the TV and Bobby Gene and I were playing Battleship behind the couch.
From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
