wartime

noun

war·​time ˈwȯr-ˌtīm How to pronounce wartime (audio)
often attributive
: a period during which a war is in progress
rationing during wartime

Examples of wartime in a Sentence

Many goods were rationed during wartime.
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.
For anyone wondering whether Wall Street would still fly to Riyadh in wartime, Saudi Arabia’s flagship investment conference has published its RSVPs. — Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026 Like Slaughterhouse–Five, Mother Night explores the shadowy line separating good and evil during wartime. — Literary Hub, 31 Aug. 2026 There's a lack of solid information on exactly how much oil is moving through Hormuz due to the complexity of tracking ships during wartime, said Bridget Diakun, maritime intelligence and research director at Lloyd's List. — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026 Some political actors are warning that a vote during wartime, which would require changes to Ukraine’s constitution and other laws, could aid Russia by destabilizing the government and dividing society. — David L. Stern, Washington Post, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wartime

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wartime was in the 14th century

Rhymes for wartime

See All Rhymes for wartime

Browse Nearby Words

warthog
wartime
wartless
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

wartime

noun
war·​time ˈwȯ(ə)r-ˌtīm How to pronounce wartime (audio)
: a period when a war is going on
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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