War Department

American  

noun

U.S. History.

1. the department of the federal government that, from 1789 until 1947, was responsible for defense and the military establishment: in 1947 it became the Department of the Army, which became part of the Department of Defense when it was established in 1949.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

War Department

President Abraham Lincoln spent many evenings in the War Department telegraph office reading dispatches and issuing orders.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 26, 2026

“The president has made it clear that you will not have a nuclear weapon. The War Department agrees,” Hegseth told reporters Tuesday in the Oval Office.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 25, 2026

The Department of Defense, now called the War Department, is investing directly in companies, demanding greater production and new technology.

From Barron's ● Jan. 14, 2026

In the end, the president will get his War Department.

From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2025

Men ran or galloped to the White House, the War Department, and the homes of cabinet officers.

From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson