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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.

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

It was unclear when Congress might take up the war powers measure.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 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

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 8, 2025

The concentration of war powers in the hands of President Lincoln during the Civil War was matched by the temporary dictatorship wielded by President Wilson during the World War.

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