War Department

American  

noun

U.S. History.

1. the department of the federal government that, from 1789 until 1947, was responsible for defense and the military establishment: in 1947 it became the Department of the Army, which became part of the Department of Defense when it was established in 1949.

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Example Sentences

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War Department

President Abraham Lincoln spent many evenings in the War Department telegraph office reading dispatches and issuing orders.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 26, 2026

“The president has made it clear that you will not have a nuclear weapon. The War Department agrees,” Hegseth said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 24, 2026

“The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II. Like in that war back when we were still the War Department, we are fighting to win.”

From Barron's ● Mar. 6, 2026

In the end, the president will get his War Department.

From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2025

Arriving at dawn, he travels immediately to the War Department, where he meets with Stanton.

From "Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever" by Bill O'Reilly