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

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.
As part of the Virginia-class fleet, USS New Jersey forms a central element of the US attack-submarine force, designed to operate stealthily in both littoral zones and open-ocean environments, providing the Navy with a versatile and survivable platform for modern undersea warfare. Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026 Russia and Ukraine exchanged deadly strikes overnight, killing 10 people and wounding dozens in intense drone warfare. Volodymyr Yurchuk, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026 The strikes, the latest in an intensifying drone warfare between the army and the RSF, killed 10 people, including seven medical staffers, and injured at least 19 people. ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026 Russia's war in Ukraine has given rise to a new kind of drone warfare. Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 3 Apr. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Warfare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/warfare. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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

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