battleship

American  

[bat-l-ship] / ˈbæt lˌʃɪp /

noun

1. any of a class of warships that are the most heavily armored and are equipped with the most powerful armament.

2. ship of the line.

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battleship British  

/ ˈbætəlˌʃɪp /

noun

1. a heavily armoured warship of the largest type having many large-calibre guns

2. (formerly) a warship of sufficient size and armament to take her place in the line of battle; ship of the line

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Etymology

Origin of battleship

An Americanism dating back to 1785–95; battle ¹ + ship ¹

Compare meaning

How does battleship compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• dreadnought vs. battleship

Example Sentences

The frigate's role was to act as a first line of defence by circling battleship HMS Warspite and it was expected that the sailors would sacrifice their lives.

From BBC

The U.S. has moved the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier along with other battleships and advanced fighters to the region.

From The Wall Street Journal

The new ones are “100 times more powerful” than the legendary battleships of World War II, which he went on to name—the Missouri, the Iowa, the Alabama.

From The Wall Street Journal

He said that starting with his first term, he had been asking, “Why aren’t we doing battleships like we used to?”

From Los Angeles Times

This matters because the cutter and battleship could divert resources and focus from crucial priorities such as more stealthy submarines.

From The Wall Street Journal