battlefield
BA-tuhl-feeld
Battlefield (noun) means the area of ground where a battle is or was fought. Example: “Farmers still find old coins when they plough the battlefield each spring.”
noun
1
The area of ground where a battle is or was fought.
"Farmers still find old coins when they plough the battlefield each spring."
"A quiet memorial now stands in the middle of the battlefield."
"Tourists now visit the old battlefield to learn its history."
"Though in the past it saw much of the unhappiness and strife of Border warfare—the great battlefields of Pilleth and Mortimer's Cross are nearby—it is now a quiet and happy place."
— John D. Hewitt, The Kington Branch of the G.W.R (1939)
2
Figuratively, any arena of intense conflict or competition.
"The online shopping market has become a battlefield for small businesses."
"Social media can turn into a battlefield when people disagree strongly."
"The courtroom became a battlefield of legal arguments."
How to use battlefield
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWhere a battle happens, literally or figuratively.
Common pairings
battlefield tactics
political battlefield
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Word forms
- Plural
- battlefields
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Farmers still find old coins when they plough the _____ each spring.
Etymology
From battle + field.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for battlefield
See all rhymes for battlefield →Frequently asked questions
What does “battlefield” mean?
The word “battlefield” means the area of ground where a battle is or was fought. In plain terms, where a battle happens, literally or figuratively.
How do you pronounce “battlefield”?
“Battlefield” is pronounced BA-tuhl-feeld (/ˈbætəlˌfiːld/ in IPA).
How do you use “battlefield” in a sentence?
Here is “battlefield” used in a sentence: “Tourists now visit the old battlefield to learn its history.”
What part of speech is “battlefield”?
“Battlefield” is a noun.
Is “battlefield” a common word?
“Battlefield” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “battlefield” have?
“Battlefield” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the area of ground where a battle is or was fought.
What is the difference between a "battlefield" and a "battleground"?
The two are close and often interchangeable, both meaning the place where a battle is fought. "Battlefield" tends to describe the physical site of military combat, while "battleground" is used slightly more often in the figurative sense of a contested area, such as a political battleground.
What is the difference between a "battlefield" and a "war zone"?
A battlefield is the specific area where a particular battle takes place, while a war zone is a broader region affected by ongoing warfare. A single war zone may contain many battlefields.
Can "battlefield" be used figuratively?
Yes. Beyond its military meaning, "battlefield" is often used figuratively for any arena of intense conflict or competition, as in "the courtroom became a battlefield." Used this way, it emphasises struggle rather than actual fighting.
What words commonly go with "battlefield"?
"Battlefield" often appears with verbs such as "die on the battlefield" or "fall on the battlefield," and in phrases such as battlefield conditions, battlefield medicine, and battlefield tactics. These collocations relate to the experience and conduct of combat.
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