prewar

adjective

pre·​war ˌprē-ˈwȯr How to pronounce prewar (audio)
variants or pre-war
: occurring or existing before a war and especially before World War II
prewar conditions
the prewar era/period/years
the country's prewar population
prewar levels of industrial production
an apartment in a prewar building

Examples of prewar in a Sentence

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.
But ship traffic through the strait remains well below prewar levels, according to independent firms that track marine traffic. — Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026 Last week, Goldman Sachs Research estimated that Persian Gulf oil exports have recovered to two-thirds of prewar levels. — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026 Oil exports from the region on Monday were higher than prewar levels when Saudi Arabia's and the United Arab Emirate's pipelines that bypass Hormuz are included, Wright said. — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026 Built in 1903 as a hotel, it was converted in 2016 to a luxury residential building with unusually intact prewar character, plus the latest post-postwar amenities, including a 24-hour doorman, a private rooftop with Manhattan views, and a gym. — Bridget Read, Curbed, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prewar

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prewar was in 1868

Rhymes for prewar

See All Rhymes for prewar

Browse Nearby Words

Prévost d'Exiles
prewar
prewarn
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prewar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prewar. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

prewar

adjective
pre·​war
ˈprē-ˈwȯ(ə)r
: occurring or existing before a war
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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