Definition

Noun: A warship is a government-owned ship that is specifically designed, armed, and used for warfare at sea. It is a naval vessel built for combat, as opposed to commercial or civilian ships.

Usage

The word "warship" is used to describe any armed ship serving in a nation's navy. It is a formal and specific term. The word is typically used as a countable noun.

Examples

• The navy deployed several warships to patrol the coast.
• The museum displays a historic warship from the 19th century.
• Modern warships are equipped with advanced missile systems and radar.

Advanced Usage

• "Capital warship": A term historically used for the most important and powerfully armed warships in a fleet, such as battleships and aircraft carriers.
  • The aircraft carrier is considered a capital warship in modern navies.

Variants and Related Words

• Warships (plural): The standard plural form.
• Man-of-war (noun, archaic): An old-fashioned term for an armed sailing warship.
• Naval vessel (noun): A more general term for any ship in a navy, which includes warships as well as support ships.
• Combatant (noun, in naval context): A ship or person authorized to engage in warfare. A warship is a type of naval combatant.

Synonyms

• Battleship (specifically a type of large, heavily armored warship).
• Destroyer (specifically a type of fast, maneuverable warship).
• Frigate (specifically a type of warship, smaller than a destroyer).
• Naval ship (a broader synonym).

Antonyms

• Merchant ship: A ship used for commercial trade.
• Civilian vessel: Any non-military ship.
• Passenger liner: A ship designed to transport passengers.

Related Phrases

• Fleet of warships: A group of warships operating together under one command.
  • A large fleet of warships conducted the military exercise.
• Warship class: A group of warships built to the same design.
  • The new warship class features stealth technology.

Noun

1. a government ship that is available for waging war