Synonyms

prewar

American

[pree-wawr] / ˈpriˈwɔr /

adjective

before the war.

prewar prices.

prewar British

/ ˈpriːˌwɔː, ˌpriːˈwɔː /

adjective

of or occurring in the period before a war, esp before World War I or II

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of prewar

First recorded in 1905–10; pre- + war ¹

Vocabulary lists containing prewar

"The Diary of a Young Girl," Vocabulary from the diary

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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.

“The return to prewar prices reflects a much lower probability of a severe supply shock, but it does not mean the market has returned to normal,” said Yilmaz.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 2, 2026

‘The return to prewar prices reflects a much lower probability of a severe supply shock, but it does not mean the market has returned to normal.’

From MarketWatch • Jul. 2, 2026

“Our assumption is that flows will only get close to prewar levels towards the end of the third quarter, while current price levels imply a return to normal by the end of July.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2026

Oil prices were dropping last week — falling to their prewar level Friday — and average gas prices fell by 7 cents per gallon over a week ago.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 28, 2026

The elevator was prewar, with gilded, curving bars like a birdcage.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023