casus belli
[ key-suhs -bel-ahy, bel-ee; Latin kah-soos -bel-lee ]
/ ˈkeɪ səs ˈbɛl aɪ, ˈbɛl i; Latin ˈkɑ sʊs ˈbɛl li /
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noun, plural ca·sus bel·li [key-suhs -bel-ahy, bel-ee; Latin kah-soos -bel-lee]. /ˈkeɪ səs ˈbɛl aɪ, ˈbɛl i; Latin ˈkɑ sus ˈbɛl li/.
an event or political occurrence that brings about a declaration of war.
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Origin of casus belli
1840–50; <New Latin: literally, occurrence of war
Words nearby casus belli
casualwear, casuarina, casuist, casuistic, casuistry, casus belli, cat, cata-, catabaptist, catabasis, catabiotic
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for casus belli
casus belli
/ Latin (ˈkɑːsʊs ˈbɛliː) /
noun plural casus belli (ˈkɑːsʊs ˈbɛliː)
an event or act used to justify a war
the immediate cause of a quarrel
Word Origin for casus belli
literally: occasion of war
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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