war story
Americannoun
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an account or anecdote concerning one's personal experiences, especially in military combat, during a war.
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Informal. a story about hardships, ordeals, or adventures one has undergone.
Etymology
Origin of war story
First recorded in 1860–65
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.
But it’s Alvin, engineer and historical enthusiast, who distinguishes that “every war story was a systems story, usually one of a breakdown. Intentions were always good; decisions made at scale.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2025
“I can tell you my whole war story in one word: Fear,” he said.
From New York Times ● Jun. 17, 2024
He joined the BBC and the head of drama asked to turn his war story into a drama, Mimosa Boys, screened as part of the Play for Today series.
From BBC ● May 3, 2022
Surely because by doing so, the author can envelop a putatively alien West African war story in a familiar American setting.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 2, 2021
“But Grandma, I want to hear your war story also!”
From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
