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war powers

American

plural noun

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.

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

A war powers resolution is an act of Congress that is based on a 1973 law of the same name.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 14, 2026

We also have something called Article I of the Constitution that vests war powers in Congress.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 8, 2025

One key purpose of the Constitution was to transfer war powers from the states to the federal government so that the nation could present a unified front to its enemies.

From Slate • Aug. 11, 2023

Enumerate the chief war powers of the President.

From Problems in American Democracy by Williamson, Thames Ross

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023