Skip to main content
World War 2

World War 2

93 2.7
A global war from 1939 to 1945 involving many countries
  • proper noun
  • /wɜrld wɔr tu/
translation icon : Segunda Guerra Mundial
  • The events of World War II reshaped political alliances and economies across nations.
  • post-World War 2
  • end of World War 2
  • aftermath of World War 2

In fact, half of all Jews who died during World War Two died on Polish land.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Some observers regarded the atmosphere as more dangerous than at any time since World War II.

    Academic text (1990)
  • He served at sea throughout World War Two, from the Arctic to the Pacific.

  • The mass production after World War Two had already taken hold.

  • Okay, this is Germany before World War II.

  • Two months after I arrived at the school, World War II broke out in Europe.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • One of the most interesting periods of U.S. economic history is that of World War II.

    Academic text (1990)
  • You worked for Allied Intelligence during World War II.

  • Ever since I was a child, I knew that my parents were locked up during World War Two in a relocation camp in California.

  • Unbiased exposure to American culture in the aftermath of World War II was extremely limited.

    Academic text (1990)
  • The economic reconstruction of Japan achieved after World War II is mainly due to U.S. assistance and encouragement.

    Academic text (1993)

Synonyms

Second World War
vsWorld War 2
47 1.8

A worldwide war from 1939 to 1945 between the Allies and the Axis

highlights the war's significant worldwide impact rather than just stating dates and sides
World War II
vsWorld War 2
  • Literature
12 2.5

A global war from 1939 to 1945 between the Allies and Axis powers

presents the conflict as a major global event without listing participants

Surface Forms

Morphology

world + war + 2

The meaning 'the global war fought 1939–1945' is directly and compositionally derivable from 'world' (global), 'war' (armed conflict) and the numeral '2' indicating the second such global conflict. This naming pattern (World War + numeral) is common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would readily understand the referent.

Etymology

World War 2 gets its name from being the second huge war that involved many countries. The words World (many countries), War (armed fighting) and 2 (the 'second' one) show why this name is used for the war from 1939 to 1945.