warfare
gb/wˈɔɹfˌɛɹ/ us/wˈɔɹfˌɛɹ/
B2
English
~ 5000
hadviselés, háború
NOUN
B2
1
hadviselés
B2
háború
A2
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] engages in warfare
The country has been engaged in warfare for over a decade.
Az ország több mint egy évtizede háborúban áll.
Modern warfare often involves advanced technology and cyber operations.
A modern hadviselés gyakran fejlett technológiát és kiberműveleteket is magában foglal.
Chemical warfare is banned under international law.
Guerrilla warfare relies on small, mobile groups attacking larger forces.
The book examines the history of medieval warfare.
Learner examples
The two countries are in warfare.
A két ország háborúban áll egymással.
Warfare can cause much damage.
A hadviselés nagy károkat okozhat.
Modern warfare uses new technology.
Warfare between the tribes lasted many years.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'warfare' with 'war'. 'Warfare' refers to the activity or method of fighting, while 'war' is the state or period of fighting.
Meaning
Armed conflict between groups
Collocations
modern warfare
|chemical warfare
|guerrilla warfare
|nuclear warfare
|psychological warfare
Synonyms
conflict (A broad term that can include non-military disputes as well as armed fighting.)
|
combat (Suggests active fighting, often on a smaller or more tactical scale than warfare.)
Antonyms
peace (The absence of war or conflict.)
Themes
military
|politics
|history
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Fighting between countries or groups using weapons and armies.
The activity or process of engaging in armed conflict between countries, groups, or forces.
Grammar
Dictionary form
warfare
IPA
GB/wˈɔɹfˌɛɹ/
US/wˈɔɹfˌɛɹ/
Syllables & stress
war - fare (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (war)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: warfare
- Plural: warfare
Word family
Expressions
civil warfare
1/sˈɪvəl wˈɔɹfˌɛɹ/
fixed phrase
Internal conflict within a country
War between groups of people inside the same country.
Examples
- Civil warfare broke out after the government collapsed.
- The movie is set during a time of civil warfare.
nuclear warfare
1/nˈukliɚ wˈɔɹfˌɛɹ/
fixed phrase
Conflict with nuclear weapons
War where countries use nuclear bombs or missiles.
Examples
- Nuclear warfare could destroy entire cities in minutes.
- The threat of nuclear warfare keeps many nations cautious.
chemical warfare
1/kˈɛmɪkəl wˈɔɹfˌɛɹ/
fixed phrase
technical
Use of toxic chemicals in war
The use of poisonous chemicals as weapons during war.
Examples
- Chemical warfare is prohibited under international law.
- Chemical warfare is banned by many international treaties.
- The army trained to protect soldiers from chemical warfare attacks.
- The army trained soldiers to protect themselves from chemical warfare.
guerrilla warfare
1/ɡɚˈɪlə wˈɔɹfˌɛɹ/
fixed phrase
war using irregular tactics
A kind of war where small groups of fighters use surprise attacks and quick moves against a bigger, regular army.
Examples
- Guerrilla warfare was common in the region's fight for independence.
- The army was not prepared for prolonged guerrilla warfare in the mountains.
- The rebels used guerrilla warfare to avoid direct battles.
- Guerrilla warfare often depends on local support from villagers.
- The documentary explains how guerrilla warfare changed the course of the conflict.
psychological warfare
1/sˌaɪkəlˈɑd͡ʒɪkəl wˈɔɹfˌɛɹ/
fixed phrase
Tactics to affect enemy morale
The use of ideas, rumors, or fear to weaken an enemy's mind in war or competition.
Examples
- The army engaged in psychological warfare to demoralize the opposition.
- The leader used psychological warfare to make the enemy afraid before the battle.
- Rumors were spread as part of their psychological warfare strategy.
- Advertising can sometimes feel like a kind of psychological warfare.