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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

warship

WAW-shihp

Warship (noun) means a ship built or equipped for combat at sea. Example: “The warship patrolled the strait for weeks before returning to port.”

noun
1
A ship built or equipped for combat at sea.
"The warship patrolled the strait for weeks before returning to port."
"Naval historians love debating which warship changed the course of the battle."
2
In science fiction, a spacecraft built or armed for combat.
"The fleet's flagship warship jumped to hyperspace just as the enemy arrived."

How to use warship

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA ship (or, in sci-fi, a spacecraft) designed and armed for military combat.

Common pairings
naval warship a fleet of warships armed warship

Word forms

warships plural, Warships plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ patrolled the strait for weeks before returning to port.

Etymology

A straightforward compound of war and ship, describing exactly what it is — a ship built for war.

man-of-war warcraft

Related words

Rhymes for warship

See all rhymes for warship →

Frequently asked questions

What does “warship” mean?

The word “warship” means a ship built or equipped for combat at sea. In plain terms, a ship (or, in sci-fi, a spacecraft) designed and armed for military combat.

How do you pronounce “warship”?

“Warship” is pronounced WAW-shihp (/ˈwɔɹˌʃɪp/ in IPA).

How do you use “warship” in a sentence?

Here is “warship” used in a sentence: “The warship patrolled the strait for weeks before returning to port.”

What is another word for “warship”?

Words with a similar meaning to “warship” include man-of-war and warcraft.

What part of speech is “warship”?

“Warship” is a noun.

Is “warship” a common word?

“Warship” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “warship” have?

“Warship” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a ship built or equipped for combat at sea.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial