warship

American  

[wawr-ship] / ˈwɔrˌʃɪp /

noun

warships plural

1. a ship built or armed for combat purposes.

---

warship British  

/ ˈwɔːˌʃɪp /

noun

1. a vessel armed, armoured, and otherwise equipped for naval warfare

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• warships
  plural

Etymology

Origin of warship

First recorded in 1525–35; war ¹ + ship ¹

Explanation

A warship is a military sea vessel that's usually armed with weapons. A country's navy uses warships in battles or to transport troops. A battleship is one specific kind of warship, a very large one that's outfitted with weapons and heavily defended against attack. All warships are prepared for war (which is where they get their name), and most of them are controlled by the naval forces of a nation. Many countries move their warships into particular regions to exert political force on adversaries, or send them to protect civilian or cargo ships from pirate attacks.

Example Sentences

According to Earl, Moses’ 98-year old great grandfather Bill Jones is the last known surviving member of the World War II Navy Warship Crew the “USS Jamestown.”

From Seattle Times • Sep. 28, 2022

So do not expect a repeat of what happened in 2018 when another Royal Navy Warship, HMS Albion, deliberately sailed close to the disputed Paracel Islands, prompting an angry response from Beijing.

From BBC • May 21, 2021

The Warship by Neal Asher The Warship is the latest installment in Neal Asher’s Rise of the Jain series, which follows last year’s The Soldier.

From The Verge • May 1, 2019

For the first time she'll raise the White Ensign - officially becoming a Royal Navy Warship.

From BBC • Dec. 6, 2017

At the same moment came a cry from the lookout aft: "Warship coming up astern, sir!"

From The Boy Allies with the Victorious Fleets Or, the Fall of the German Navy by Hayes, Clair W. (Clair Wallace)

Related Words

• battleship
• corvette
• cutter
• destroyer
• frigate
• gunboat
• submarine