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Battle of Britain

American  

noun

  1. (in World War II) the series of aerial combats that took place between British and German aircraft during the autumn of 1940 and that included the severe bombardment of British cities.


Battle of Britain British  

noun

  1. from August to October 1940, the prolonged bombing of S England by the German Luftwaffe and the successful resistance by the RAF Fighter Command, which put an end to the German plan of invading Britain

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

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In 1977, he published Fighter - a non-fictional account of the Battle of Britain, which Hitler's former armaments minister, Albert Speer, described as "excellent".

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

Nash, who has previously worked alongside the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, and played lacrosse for England at junior and senior level, paid tribute to her predecessor.

From BBC • Jan. 13, 2026

William and Kate said on their Kensington Palace X account: “Our thoughts this evening are with the pilot’s loved ones, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and the wider RAF family.”

From BBC • May 26, 2024

"The Battle of Britain happens. And it's late summer into autumn, which is a massive point in World War II. And, of course, James has signed up to the RAF as well."

From Salon • Feb. 19, 2024

It was before the disastrous May when the Allies fled, retreating to the French beaches, before the siege that was the Battle of Britain, before the thunder and flame-filled nights of the Blitz.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein