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

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War Department

When asked to comment, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement: “It is the duty of the War Department to ensure that the commander-in-chief has every possible military option at his disposal.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 4, 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

He reverses a post-World War II decision that renamed the War Department the Department of Defense, returning its meaning to “war.”

From Salon ● Nov. 8, 2025

As he revealed in his 2013 documentary memoir “Ain’t Misbehavin,” he began his career as an actor, playing, ironically, a member of the Hitler Youth in Frank Capra’s 1942 War Department film “Prelude to War.”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2025

Arthur published a War Department chart showing wing and tail markings of airplanes.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson