war zone

American  

noun

1. (during wartime) a combat area in which the rights of neutrals are suspended, as such an area on the high seas, where ships flying a neutral flag are subject to attack.

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Etymology

Origin of war zone

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

One email seen by AFP came from a seafarer asking to confirm whether his salary would go from $16 a day to $32 because he was in a designated war zone.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

To wit: The continued reliance on oil leaves American consumers vulnerable to spikes in the price of gasoline—as might be expected when, for example, the Strait of Hormuz becomes a war zone.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

Tourists who spoke to Reuters described the resort town of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, as a "war zone".

From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026

The city of 600,000, with its white stucco buildings and palm-lined streets, looked something like a war zone.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

The lawn looked like a war zone, with smoking craters and trenches from the blown-out irrigation pipes.

From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan