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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.


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

"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

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.


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.

See Examples For:

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

Before the Punic Wars, Carthage alternately supported and clashed with the Sicilian city of Syracuse, ruled by the tyrant-king Agathocles from 317 B.C. to 289 B.C.

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

Rome’s encounter with Carthage led to three long and exhaustive conflicts known as the Punic Wars.

From Textbooks Apr. 19, 2023

The nature of youth and the nature of crowds have not changed essentially since the Civil War, nor since the Punic Wars.

From Americans and Others by Repplier, Agnes

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