Punic Wars

American  

plural noun

1. the three wars waged by Rome against Carthage, 264–241, 218–201, and 149–146 b.c., resulting in the destruction of Carthage and the annexation of its territory by Rome.

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Punic Wars British  

plural noun

1. three wars (264–241 _bc , 218–201 _bc , and 149–146 _bc ), in which Rome crushed Carthaginian power, destroying Carthage itself

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Punic Wars Cultural  

1. Three wars between ancient Carthage and Rome in the third and second centuries b.c. Hannibal led the forces of Carthage in the second Punic War. Carthage was destroyed after the third Punic War.

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Example Sentences

It is thought he took soldiers and animals from Carthage through Spain and France to invade Italy, crossing the Alps with 37 elephants in 218 BCE during the second of the so-called Punic Wars.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

While the outcome of the Punic Wars is clear, Ms. MacDonald rejects the Roman fancy that both sides had been “two equal powers whose dispute was over the ‘empire of the world.’”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

“Do you want to read?” one of the third graders, Parker, asked his partner after the lesson on the Punic Wars.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 9, 2023

A series of wars ensued, called the Punic Wars, in which Rome and Carthage vied for dominance.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

The latter was the effect which his lecture on the Punic Wars had on Tom.

From Tom Brown at Oxford by Hughes, Thomas