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

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

The “battleship” name harks back to the ships with large main guns used until the end of the Cold War, but the new ships will feature a next-generation design.

From The Wall Street Journal

They take provisions to the battleship in their fishing boats.

From The Wall Street Journal

“If the government decides to use big guns and bring back the battleships, I’m not getting involved.”

From The Wall Street Journal