state of war

noun

a condition marked by armed conflict between or among states, existing whether or not war has been declared formally by any of the belligerents.
a legal condition initiated and concluded by formal declaration, and not necessarily involving armed conflict.
the duration of such a condition.

Origin of state of war

First recorded in 1945–50

Words nearby state of war

state of grace, state of matter, state of the art, state of the union address, state of the union message, state of war, state police, state prayers, state prison, state registered nurse, state religion

British Dictionary definitions for state of war

state of war

noun

a period of armed conflict between states, regardless of whether or not war has been officially declared
a legal condition begun by a declaration of war and ended formally, during which the rules of international law applicable to warfare may be invoked