English Reference

Word

wartime

US/ˈwɔɹˌtaɪm/

UK/wˈɔːtaɪm/

Definition

n. the period of time when a country is at war. It describes the special conditions or rules that happen during a conflict.

n. the period during which a country or region is engaged in an armed conflict. Often used as a modifier before another noun to describe conditions specific to that era.

Examples

“Life was very difficult for families during wartime.”

“The government introduced strict rationing of food and fuel during wartime to support the military effort.”

“Historians often examine how social norms shift during wartime, as the immediate needs of national survival frequently override individual liberties and traditional economic structures.”

Examples

simple

“Life was very difficult for families during wartime.”

contextual

“The government introduced strict rationing of food and fuel during wartime to support the military effort.”

complex

“Historians often examine how social norms shift during wartime, as the immediate needs of national survival frequently override individual liberties and traditional economic structures.”

Usage

Commonly used as an attributive noun (e.g., 'wartime economy', 'wartime leader').

Real-World Examples

“Mykhailo Fedorov has also called for wartime elections to be held in Ukraine.”
BBC News · 23 Aug 2026
“But Clauset said it could still benefit presidents and policymakers who make wartime decisions.”
Phys.org · 12 Aug 2026

Etymology

From war + time.

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

Word family

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/wartime

English Reference