Word
warfare
Phoneticswar·fare, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈwɔɹˌfɛɹ/
UK/wˈɔːfeə/
Definitions
01fighting a war
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the activity of fighting a war or a long period of armed conflict.
n. the act of engaging in or the state of being at war; the general conduct of armed conflict.
“The country has suffered through years of brutal warfare and economic collapse.”
“The civilian population bore the brunt of the warfare, as the conflict moved from remote borders into densely populated urban centres.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02a specific method of fighting
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Technical
n. a particular way of fighting, often named after the tools or tactics used.
n. military operations characterised by a specific method, environment, or technology.
“The soldiers were trained in jungle warfare before being sent to the tropical region.”
“Modern military doctrine has shifted its focus toward cyber warfare, prioritising the protection of digital infrastructure over traditional territorial defence.”
Usage
Often used as the second part of a compound noun, such as 'chemical warfare' or 'trench warfare'.
Synonyms
03intense competition
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Literary
n. a situation where people or companies compete very strongly and try to hurt each other.
n. intense conflict or competition between opposing groups that resembles military struggle in its aggression.
“The two tech giants are engaged in a legal warfare over patent rights.”
“The boardroom witnessed a form of psychological warfare as the rival executives vied for the support of the remaining shareholders.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “warfare” in context.
Verb
01. conduct unconventional warfare
“Special forces were deployed to conduct unconventional warfare behind enemy lines.”
verb + adj + noun
02. engage in trench warfare
“Soldiers in the First World War had to engage in trench warfare for months at a time.”
verb + prep + adj + noun
03. wage psychological warfare
“The regime attempted to wage psychological warfare by spreading misinformation among the populace.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
04. asymmetric warfare
“The insurgency is a classic example of asymmetric warfare where a small force takes on a superpower.”
adj + noun
05. biological warfare
“International treaties strictly prohibit the use of biological warfare due to its devastating impact.”
adj + noun
06. guerrilla warfare
“The rebels resorted to guerrilla warfare, using the dense jungle to their advantage.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. rules of warfare
“Even in times of conflict, nations are expected to adhere to the established rules of warfare.”
noun + of + noun
08. theatre of warfare
“The Pacific became a primary theatre of warfare during the 1940s.”
noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“The remarkable discovery exposes a thriving weapons trade network that connected Mediterranean powers during a time of piracy, warfare, and growing demand for military equipment.” “In fact, it was a trend in imperial warfare during the early 20th century, as seen in Nazi Germany’s wartime operations as well.” Etymology
From war + fare; perhaps a shortening of Middle English werre-faringe, werfarynge (“waging war, warfare”, literally “going to war”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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