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warfare
/ˈwɔːrˌfɛər/
armed conflict between groups
The country has been engaged in warfare for over a decade.
The country has been involved in armed conflict for more than ten years.
formal
the act of waging war or armed conflict between nations or groups
Chemical warfare was banned by international treaties in 1925.
The use of toxic chemicals in armed conflict was prohibited by global agreements.
Cyber warfare has become a major concern in modern conflicts.
Digital attacks targeting computer systems are now a critical component of military strategy.
Often used in compound forms like 'guerrilla warfare' or 'psychological warfare' to specify types of conflict.
Collocations
guerrilla warfareunconventional combat using ambushes and sabotagechemical warfareuse of toxic substances as weaponspsychological warfaretactics to influence enemy morale or behavior
Pro Tip
Avoid overgeneralization
Do not use 'warfare' for non-military struggles (e.g., 'price warfare' is informal shorthand; prefer 'price competition').
Gold Rule
Context matters
Always pair with a modifier (e.g., 'guerrilla warfare') to specify the type of conflict; standalone 'warfare' implies large-scale armed conflict.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'werrefare' (war + fare 'journey, path'), originally meaning 'military expedition' (14th century). Evolved to mean 'armed conflict' by the 16th century.
Usage Notes
Primarily used in formal contexts (historical, military, political). Avoid using for minor disputes or non-violent conflicts.
Word Breakdown
war
armed conflict
rootfare
journey/path
root (archaic)English Dictionary