trench warfare

American  

noun

1. combat in which each side occupies a system of protective trenches.

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trench warfare British  

noun

1. a type of warfare in which opposing armies face each other in entrenched positions

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trench warfare Cultural  

1. Warfare marked by slow wearing down of the opposing forces and piecemeal gains at heavy cost. The term applies especially to World War I.

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Etymology

Origin of trench warfare

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

His contention that bombing industrial centers would lead to a speedy victory was seen by many as a response to World War I, and the long slog of trench warfare.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 9, 2026

Defenders typically have advantages over attackers in trench warfare, and the Russian army has had months to dig in.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 8, 2023

But after 5,000 editorials and years of journalistic trench warfare, Mr. Carter took his fight into politics.

From New York Times • May 12, 2023

They were often little different from the trench warfare of a century ago.

From BBC • Jan. 31, 2023

Our trenches have now for some time been shot to pieces, and we have an elastic line, so that there is practically no longer any proper trench warfare.

From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque