warfare

noun

war·​fare ˈwȯr-ˌfer How to pronounce warfare (audio)
Synonyms of warfarenext
1
: military operations between enemies : hostilities, war
also : an activity undertaken by a political unit (such as a nation) to weaken or destroy another
economic warfare
2
: struggle between competing entities : conflict
see also:
biological warfare chemical warfare cyber warfare germ warfare trench warfare

Synonyms of warfare

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Examples of warfare in a Sentence

that troubled household seems to be almost constantly in a state of warfare companies engaged in constant warfare for dominance in the market for smart phones and tablets
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And so, reliable power may prove to be one of the most important enabling technologies in modern warfare. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 2026 Based in Kyiv, Fire Point is a leading Ukrainian defense-technology company that specializes in drone and missile systems for modern precision warfare. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 7 July 2026 Poland has reportedly been warned by the United States that Moscow might attack – in a limited fashion, perhaps with drones or another form of hybrid warfare, but still in a way that decades ago would have seemed inconceivable. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 6 July 2026 Russia's military has significantly adapted since 2022, learning to integrate lessons faster, especially in drone warfare. — David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for warfare

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from werre, warre war + fare journey, passage — more at fare

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of warfare was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing warfare

Rhymes for warfare

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Browse Nearby Words

warfa
warfare
warfarin
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Cite this Entry

“Warfare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/warfare. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

warfare

noun
war·​fare ˈwȯr-ˌfa(ə)r How to pronounce warfare (audio)
-ˌfe(ə)r
1
a
: military fighting between enemies : war
b
: activity undertaken by one country or group to weaken or destroy another
economic warfare
2
: a struggle between competitors : conflict
industrial warfare

More from Merriam-Webster on warfare

Nglish: Translation of warfare for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about warfare

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