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war powers

American  

plural noun

  1. the powers exercised by the president or by Congress during a war or a crisis affecting national security.


Etymology

Origin of war powers

First recorded in 1760–70

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.

See Examples For:

On a special Slate Plus extra episode of Amicus, Mark Joseph Stern spoke with Eugene Fidell about Trump’s startling claim of unilateral war powers.

From Slate Mar. 2, 2026

Representatives Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., are looking to force a vote on a war powers resolution.

From Salon Feb. 19, 2026

Domestically, opposition politicians chanted the traditional laments about executive usurpation and congressional war powers.

From The Wall Street Journal Jan. 4, 2026

In an effort to regain congressional war powers, the U.S.

From New York Times Mar. 30, 2023

On the other hand the President, if he abuses the war powers "when peace returns, is answerable to the civil power for that abuse."

From Lincoln; An Account of his Personal Life, Especially of its Springs of Action as Revealed and Deepened by the Ordeal of War by Stephenson, Nathaniel W. (Nathaniel Wright)

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