warship

American  

[wawr-ship] / ˈwɔrˌʃɪp /

noun

1. a ship built or armed for combat purposes.

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warship British  

/ ˈwɔːˌʃɪp /

noun

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

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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

Yes, Soderbergh would’ve needed to hire a VFX team to produce images of a Spanish warship.

From Salon • Apr. 17, 2026

Central Command reported a majority of Iran’s missile, drone, and warship facilities are damaged or destroyed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

A 2,500-strong Marine unit accompanied by the USS Tripoli warship launched from Japan Saturday.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026

The world's largest warship has been beset by problems during its deployment in the Middle East, including an earlier breakdown of its toilet system.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

The kid on the warship looked exactly like Hazel’s old boyfriend.

From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

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