holy war

American  

noun

1. a war waged for what is supposed or proclaimed to be a holy purpose, as the defense of faith.

2. any disagreement or argument between fanatical proponents of radically differing beliefs, opinions, etc..

   a holy war on the merits of rival computer operating systems; a holy war about welfare reform.

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holy war British  

noun

1. a war waged in the cause of a religion

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Etymology

Origin of holy war

First recorded in 1685–95

Example Sentences

Instead of worldwide holy war, they want to focus on national affairs, building friendly relations with all countries, including non-Muslim powers like the U.S.,

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 3, 2026

The story moves forward in time, with Paul Atreides now emperor, trapped in a position of power he never wanted and presiding over a holy war carried out in his name.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 1, 2026

The word ordinarily means an inner struggle for justice, under traditional Islamic theology, but is also regularly used as a call for holy war by terrorist groups.

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2024

The Muslims of Ternate began a holy war against the Portuguese and drew closer to the Muslim world.

From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022

These were not the able productions of the London clergy, the Stillingfleets and Tenisons and Tillotsons, raising the standard of a holy war against the Catholic divinity that was pouring forth from the King's press.

From The Anglo-French Entente in the Seventeenth Century by Bastide, Charles