world war

American  

noun

1. a war that involves most of the principal nations of the world.

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Etymology

Origin of world war

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

One world war later, Harry Truman confronted the Soviet Union and helped architect the modern international order but watched his approval ratings sink as inflation soured voters on the economy.

From Slate • Mar. 10, 2026

In November 2024, Koguan said he was “no longer all-in-Tesla” and began acquiring Treasury bills, citing his fear of a “1929 type stock market crash” and a potential third world war.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 4, 2026

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that the current conflict in his country could escalate into a world war.

From BBC • Dec. 28, 2025

“They’re worried about this issue. When we’re on the brink of world war, you want to talk about your daughters?” she said.

From Salon • Nov. 2, 2024

They knew there was a world war going on: It meant that they were cold and hungry, separated from family and home—some of them even from their own children.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein