casus belli
[ key-suh s bel-ahy, bel-ee; Latin kah-soo s bel-lee ]
/ ˈkeɪ səs ˈbɛl aɪ, ˈbɛl i; Latin ˈkɑ sʊs ˈbɛl li /
noun, plural ca·sus bel·li [key-suh s bel-ahy, bel-ee; Latin kah-soos bel-lee] /ˈkeɪ səs ˈbɛl aɪ, ˈbɛl i; Latin ˈkɑ sus ˈbɛl li/.
an event or political occurrence that brings about a declaration of war.
Origin of casus belli
1840–50; < New Latin: literally, occurrence of war
Words nearby casus belli
casualwear,
casuarina,
casuist,
casuistic,
casuistry,
casus belli,
cat,
cat and mouse,
cat brier,
cat burglar,
cat cafe
British Dictionary definitions for casus belli
casus belli
/ Latin (ˈkɑːsʊs ˈbɛliː) /
noun plural casus belli (ˈkɑːsʊs ˈbɛliː)
an event or act used to justify a war
the immediate cause of a quarrel
Word Origin for casus belli
literally: occasion of war