fog of war
Americannoun
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in a war or battle, the uncertainty and lack of knowledge about the current situation on the part of leaders, causing difficulty in strategizing and decision-making.
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in video games, a feature preventing players from clearly observing map conditions, activities, or geography in areas that they have not explored or no longer control.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Observers have long noted the fog of war, in which the chaos of conflict makes it difficult to determine exactly what is going on.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
Perhaps the fog of war will clear enough for us to see that — if it is indeed what enough of us are looking for.
From Salon ● Jun. 21, 2026
"The fog of war continues," investment adviser Christopher Dembik of Pictet Asset Management said.
From Barron's ● Mar. 31, 2026
“Investors are still unclear about what happens next. The fog of war is thick,” said David Morrison, senior market analyst at Trade Nation.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 24, 2026
Everett spent months preparing—researching the battle in journalistic detail, which amid the fog of war was no mean task, then polishing and memorizing his speech.
From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
