Definition

Proper noun: A major naval engagement in the Pacific theater of World War II, fought from May 4–8, 1942. It was the first naval battle in history where the opposing ships neither sighted nor directly fired upon each other, with combat conducted entirely by aircraft launched from aircraft carriers. The battle is historically significant as a strategic Allied victory that halted the Japanese advance toward Port Moresby in New Guinea.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The Battle of the Coral Sea marked a turning point in the Pacific War.
  • Historians study the tactics used in the Battle of the Coral Sea.
  • Several aircraft carriers were lost during the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Advanced Usage

• "the Coral Sea battle": An alternative, less formal reference to the same event.
  • The tactics of the Coral Sea battle influenced subsequent carrier warfare.

Variants and Related Words

• Coral Sea: The body of water where the battle occurred, located off the northeast coast of Australia.
• Naval battle: A general term for a fight between warships at sea.
• Carrier battle: A naval engagement primarily fought by aircraft from aircraft carriers.

Synonyms

• Naval engagement of the Coral Sea
• Coral Sea engagement

Related Phrases

• To be a Coral Sea: (Figurative, rare) Used to describe a complex, indirect conflict or a stalemate where opposing forces do not directly engage.
  • Their corporate rivalry became a Coral Sea, fought through proxies and media campaigns.

Notes on Meaning

This term refers specifically to a single, historical event. It is always capitalized as it is a proper noun naming a specific battle. While it describes a Japanese tactical defeat, it is primarily remembered for its strategic consequences and revolutionary method of warfare.

Noun

1. a Japanese defeat in World War II (May 1942); the first naval battle fought entirely by planes based on aircraft carriers