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.

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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

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Example Sentences

A year later, SS-GB envisaged what might have happened if Germany had won the Battle of Britain - beating Robert Harris to the concept of an alternative history novel by 20 years.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

The RAF operation comes 85 years after the Battle of Britain, when Polish pilots fought alongside the RAF to thwart sustained German air attacks in Britain's skies during World War Two.

From BBC • Sep. 20, 2025

The RAF has temporarily grounded the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight following the death of a pilot in a crash.

From BBC • May 27, 2024

The spokesperson confirmed the aircraft had not come down at RAF Coningsby - the home of the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and two frontline, combat-ready squadrons.

From BBC • May 25, 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