Wwii

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The global conflict primarily fought between the Allies and Axis powers from 1939 to 1945 that involved most of the world’s nations and resulted in widespread warfare and major geopolitical changes
2. The major international military conflict occurring during the mid-twentieth century characterized by large-scale battles on multiple continents and significant civilian impact
3. The extensive war fought during the early 1940s involving numerous countries worldwide, marked by significant military campaigns and resulting in profound global consequences

Etymology: WWII is an abbreviation rather than a word with an ancient root: it stands for "World War II," with the Roman numeral "II" marking the second conflict of that name. The name "World War I" was not in use while the first war was being fought. Contemporaries called it the Great War, and "World War" was used in print in the 1910s, but the numbering only became necessary after 1939, when the sequel arrived. The Roman numeral style itself predates the twentieth century and is the same convention used for monarchs such as Louis XIV and for sequels and anniversaries. The abbreviated form "WWII" with no periods became common in English during and after the war. Its exact date of first appearance is uncertain, so it is safest to say it was widespread by the 1940s and became standard in the decades that followed. Historians and publishers also use "Second World War," which is the British spelling, while "World War II" is the most common form in American writing.

Synonyms: world war two, world war ii