wartime

American

[wawr-tahym] / ˈwɔrˌtaɪm /

noun

a time or period of war.

Strict travel regulations apply only in wartime.

adjective

caused by, characteristic of, or occurring during war.

wartime shortages.

wartime British

/ ˈwɔːˌtaɪm /

noun

1. a period or time of war
2. ( as modifier )
  
  wartime conditions

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of wartime

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at war ¹, time

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:

wartime

Overtaxed crews can be a problem even outside of wartime.

From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026

Chinese officials have for months accused Japan of rekindling the spirit of Japanese militarism that fueled its brutal wartime conduct, a charge since picked up by North Korea and Russia.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

Iranian advocates of talks have said repeatedly on state media that they are needed to keep an economic crisis from undoing the country’s wartime achievements.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

To add to the chaos, Network Rail said "a wartime bomb" near the railway track between Tamworth and Burton-on-Trent had blocked all lines between the two stations for a time on Thursday.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

Nobody openly challenged gender boundaries—in spite of the wartime crew cuts and men’s underwear.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

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