first world war: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Historical, Academic, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “first world war” mean?
The major global war that took place primarily in Europe from 1914 to 1918, involving many of the world's great powers.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The major global war that took place primarily in Europe from 1914 to 1918, involving many of the world's great powers.
Also used as a historical, political, and sociological reference point; the first industrialised 'total war' with mass mobilisation, marking the end of the old European order and often considered the seminal catastrophe of the 20th century.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The abbreviation 'WWI' is slightly more common in American contexts, while 'the First World War' is the more frequent full form in British usage.
Connotations
In British national consciousness, it is strongly associated with trench warfare, immense loss of life, and remembrance (e.g., poppies, Armistice Day). In American consciousness, it is often seen as the nation's entry onto the world stage as a major power.
Frequency
High frequency in comparable historical and educational contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “first world war” in a Sentence
[The] First World War + VERB (began, ended, broke out)PREP (before, after, during, since) + the First World WarADJ (great, devastating, horrific) + First World WarVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “first world war” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- First-World-War-era technology
- a First World War historian
American English
- World War I-era technology
- a World War I historian
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in historical business analysis, e.g., 'Trade patterns were disrupted by the First World War.'
Academic
Very common in History, Political Science, and Literature departments. Precise dating and causal analysis are key.
Everyday
Common in discussions about history, family ancestry, remembrance events, and documentaries.
Technical
Used in military history (tactics, technology), historical demography (population impact), and international relations theory.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “first world war”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “first world war”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “first world war”
- Incorrect capitalisation: 'first world war' (should be capitalised as a proper noun).
- Using 'World War One' as a full form in very formal writing (acceptable, but 'First World War' is often preferred).
- Miswriting as 'Word War I'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The name was adopted after the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. Before that, it was known as 'The Great War' or simply 'The World War'.
It is generally considered to have lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918.
The major opposing alliances were the Allies (including France, Britain, Russia, Italy, Japan, and later the USA) and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria).
Both are correct and widely used. 'First World War' is the standard full form in encyclopaedic and formal writing, while 'WWI' is a common abbreviation, especially in American English and in tandem with 'WWII'.
The major global war that took place primarily in Europe from 1914 to 1918, involving many of the world's great powers.
First world war is usually formal, historical, academic, journalistic in register.
First world war: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɜːst ˌwɜːld ˈwɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɜːrst ˌwɜːrld ˈwɔːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A First World War mentality (criticising outdated, static thinking)”
- “Lions led by donkeys (a critical idiom about the war's leadership)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
FIRST: Fought In Really Sad Trenches. (Highlights the iconic and tragic image of trench warfare).
Conceptual Metaphor
A FOUNDATIONAL/CATACLYSMIC EVENT (the 'original' modern catastrophe, the 'birth' of the contemporary world from chaos).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a common British synonym for 'First World War'?