war baby

American  

noun

1. a child born or conceived in wartime.

2. an illegitimate child born in wartime of a parent in the armed forces.

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war baby British  

noun

1. a child born in wartime, esp the illegitimate child of a soldier

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Etymology

Origin of war baby

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Born on July 20, 1944, I'm a little "young" to remember him, though I was a war baby in an era when Congress still sometimes declared war before America made it.

From Salon • Feb. 27, 2021

Carmelita and her husband’s French war baby is a blonde named Fifi.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 27, 2020

He was a war baby, born on Nov. 20, 1942, just as the British army was seizing the port of Benghazi from the Nazis in the North Africa campaign.

From Washington Post • Aug. 18, 2020

It took him years to figure out — in his village of Kalterherberg — that he was just about the only one who didn't know he was a "war baby."

From US News • May 8, 2015

Seems he'd loaded up with a certain war baby before sailing and while the deal wouldn't either make or break him, he had a sportin' interest in which way the market was waverin'.

From Wilt Thou Torchy by Ford, Sewell