noun / verb
war
WOR/wɔːr/
Armed conflict between countries or organized groups.
Two armies face each other across land damaged by war.
Etymology
Werre already meant armed conflict. A proposed deeper connection with “confuse, mix up” suggests that the word originally evoked bringing things into confusion.
In context
the Finnish Army fought the winter war in the leadup to the winter war of 1939
More examples
- The war forces thousands of families to leave their homes.
- Both countries hope to avoid another war.
- The rival factions continue to war over control of the region.
Forms
war · wars · warred · warring
warfare noun — Armed fighting between countries or organized groups.