warfare
Americannoun
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the process of military struggle between two nations or groups of nations; war.
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armed conflict between two massed enemies, armies, or the like.
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conflict, especially when vicious and unrelenting, between competitors, political rivals, etc.
noun
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the act, process, or an instance of waging war
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conflict, struggle, or strife
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of warfare
1425–75; late Middle English werefare, i.e., a faring forth to war; see war 1, fare
Explanation
When two countries fight violently with each other, the conflict is called warfare. Whenever a group engages in war or violence, it can be described with the noun warfare, which is another way of saying "the act of war." Terrorists might use guerrilla warfare tactics against their enemies, and governments may resort to warfare to put down revolutions. The word war originally comes from a Germanic root, werso, which means "to perplex or confuse."
Vocabulary lists containing warfare
Mesopotamia - Introductory
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"Culture Clash"
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Mesopotamia - Middle School and High School
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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.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is relying on other ways of defending against jet drones, from electronic warfare to shoulder-launched missiles such as the U.S.-made Stinger.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
It’s one of the many ways modern warfare has become invisible, pervasive and endless.
From Salon ● Oct. 15, 2026
The companies racing to build artificial superintelligence say it could reshape entire economies, create vast fortunes and dominate future warfare.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
For decades, many archaeologists linked the beginnings of organised warfare to farming, when people began living in permanent settlements and competing over land, livestock and food stores.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
Surprised by such warfare, the British troops retreated toward Boston.
From "George Washington, Spymaster" by Thomas B. Allen
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
