state of war
Americannoun
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a condition marked by armed conflict between or among states, existing whether or not war has been declared formally by any of the belligerents.
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a legal condition initiated and concluded by formal declaration, and not necessarily involving armed conflict.
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the duration of such a condition.
noun
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a period of armed conflict between states, regardless of whether or not war has been officially declared
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a legal condition begun by a declaration of war and ended formally, during which the rules of international law applicable to warfare may be invoked
Etymology
Origin of state of war
First recorded in 1945–50
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 two neighbours have technically been in a state of war since 1948 and have no diplomatic relations.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026
This is a nation in which military service is near universal for both sexes and a state of war has been continuous for 2½ years.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
Lebanon and Israel are still technically in a state of war, but all the recent armed conflicts with Israel were fought by Hezbollah, not the Lebanese military.
From Barron's • Nov. 8, 2025
Or leaders, when you look at Hamas, who calculate that an endless state of war serves their interests.
From Salon • Mar. 13, 2024
And when she came home and forgot about things—like Aru’s chess games or choir practice—it wasn’t because she didn’t care, but because she was too busy juggling the state of war and peace and art.
From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi
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.
