battle cruiser: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, technical (military/naval history), and metaphorical.
Quick answer
What does “battle cruiser” mean?
A large, fast warship with armour and armament heavier than a cruiser but lighter than a battleship, designed for long-range independent operations.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, fast warship with armour and armament heavier than a cruiser but lighter than a battleship, designed for long-range independent operations.
A powerful, formidable entity or system designed for confrontation and dominance in its field; can be used metaphorically in non-military contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Term is identical in spelling and core meaning. Usage frequency may be slightly higher in British contexts due to the prominence of battlecruisers (e.g., HMS Hood) in Royal Navy history.
Connotations
In both varieties, evokes historical naval power and, often, vulnerability (as some famous battlecruisers were lost spectacularly, e.g., at Jutland).
Frequency
Low in everyday language. Higher in historical, gaming (e.g., sci-fi), and metaphorical professional discourse (e.g., business, politics).
Grammar
How to Use “battle cruiser” in a Sentence
[The/Our] battle cruiser [verb: engaged, sank, steamed, patrolled] [object/prepositional phrase].They deployed the battle cruiser as [role].The [entity] is the battle cruiser of the [industry/field].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “battle cruiser” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The battle-cruiser concept was fundamentally flawed.
- He is a battle-cruiser historian.
American English
- The battle cruiser doctrine was controversial.
- They discussed battle cruiser tactics.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphor for a dominant, aggressive company or product line. 'Their new flagship smartphone is a real battle cruiser in the mobile market.'
Academic
Used in historical, military, and naval engineering texts. 'The tactical doctrine behind the battle cruiser was debated after the Battle of Jutland.'
Everyday
Very rare. Might be used by enthusiasts or in sci-fi/gaming contexts (e.g., 'StarCraft' has Battlecruisers).
Technical
Precise naval classification in historical and design literature. 'The battle cruiser sacrificed belt armour for greater speed and gun caliber.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “battle cruiser”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “battle cruiser”
- Misspelling as 'battlecruiser' (acceptable closed compound) or 'battle-cruiser' (less common).
- Using it to describe any large warship, neglecting its specific historical role combining cruiser speed with battleship-like guns.
- Incorrect plural: 'battles cruisers' (should be 'battle cruisers').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'battlecruiser' is a common and accepted closed compound form, especially in technical and historical writing. 'Battle cruiser' (two words) is also correct.
A battle cruiser sacrificed armour protection for greater speed. It had guns similar in size to a battleship's but could not withstand the same level of punishment in a direct engagement.
No, the classification is obsolete. Modern warships like guided-missile cruisers and destroyers fulfill similar and advanced roles, but no navy operates ships designated as battle cruisers.
Yes, effectively. It describes a large, powerful, and aggressively positioned entity within a competitive field (e.g., business, politics), often implying it might have a strategic weakness despite its power.
A large, fast warship with armour and armament heavier than a cruiser but lighter than a battleship, designed for long-range independent operations.
Battle cruiser is usually formal, technical (military/naval history), and metaphorical. in register.
Battle cruiser: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbætl ˌkruːzə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbætl ˌkruːzər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BATtle between a fast CRUISER and a slow BATTLESHIP; a BATTLE CRUISER is the hybrid result.
Conceptual Metaphor
POWER IS NAVAL FORCE; AN ORGANIZATION/ENTITY IS A FLEET; COMPETITION IS WARFARE.
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary tactical rationale for the battle cruiser design?