English Reference
Noun

warship

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈwɔɹˌʃɪp/ UK /wˈɔːʃɪp/ war·ship UK spelling warship's, warship's Military

n.a large, strong ship built for fighting at sea. It carries weapons and is used by a country's navy.

n.a ship designed and armed for naval combat. Typically operated by a sovereign state's naval forces and distinguished from merchant vessels by its offensive and defensive capabilities.


SIMPLE

The warship sailed into the harbor this morning.

CONTEXTUAL

The navy deployed a modern warship to patrol the international waters and protect trade routes from piracy.

COMPLEX

The treaty restricted the number of heavy warships each nation could maintain, aiming to prevent a naval arms race in the Pacific theater.

It is also on the ship's route from the Gulf to California, giving the crew a chance to let off steam, and enjoy a break from the demands of life on board a warship.

BBC News· 3 Sept 2026

The Lincoln, one of the US navy’s largest warships, was part of American efforts in the Iran war, which flared back up over the weekend for the first time in a month.

The Guardian· 1 Sept 2026

From war + ship.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated