world war

American  

noun

1. a war that involves most of the principal nations of the world.

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Etymology

Origin of world war

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

One world war later, Harry Truman confronted the Soviet Union and helped architect the modern international order but watched his approval ratings sink as inflation soured voters on the economy.

From Slate • Mar. 10, 2026

In November 2024, Koguan said he was “no longer all-in-Tesla” and began acquiring Treasury bills, citing his fear of a “1929 type stock market crash” and a potential third world war.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 4, 2026

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that the current conflict in his country could escalate into a world war.

From BBC • Dec. 28, 2025

“STRS has survived a world war, a major depression, a major recession and a worldwide pandemic, and still paid benefits,” said Hutras, a Democrat.

From Seattle Times • May 24, 2024

This incident could spark a third world war!

From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein