hundred years' war: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Historical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “hundred years' war” mean?
A protracted series of conflicts between England and France from 1337 to 1453.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A protracted series of conflicts between England and France from 1337 to 1453.
Often used metaphorically to describe any exceptionally long, drawn-out struggle or dispute.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both variants refer to the same historical event. Slight preference for 'the Hundred Years' War' in formal UK historical texts, while US usage may occasionally appear as 'the Hundred Years War' (without the apostrophe-s).
Connotations
Carries connotations of medieval chivalry, national rivalry, and prolonged, intermittent conflict. In metaphorical use, implies a futile or exhausting struggle.
Frequency
Primarily used in historical contexts. Rare in everyday conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “hundred years' war” in a Sentence
The [Hundred Years' War] lasted for [116 years].The [Hundred Years' War] was fought between [England and France].The [Hundred Years' War] ended in [1453].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphor for a protracted legal battle or market competition ('The patent dispute became the industry's hundred years' war').
Academic
Central topic in medieval European history studies.
Everyday
Rarely used literally. Metaphorical use for any very long, tedious argument or process ('Renovating the house was a hundred years' war with the builders').
Technical
Specific historical term with defined dates, key battles (Crécy, Agincourt, Castillon), and political causes (succession, feudal rights).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hundred years' war”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hundred years' war”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hundred years' war”
- Incorrect apostrophe placement: 'Hundred Year's War' or 'Hundred Years War'.
- Capitalising every word unnecessarily: 'Hundred Years' War' is sufficient.
- Using it to describe any long war, rather than the specific historical conflict.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it lasted 116 years, from 1337 to 1453. The name is a rounded, conventional term coined by later historians.
France ultimately prevailed, successfully repelling English claims to the French throne and retaining its sovereignty, though England held the port of Calais until 1558.
It is a plural possessive. The war 'of' a hundred years. Therefore, it belongs to the hundred years: Hundred Years' War.
Yes, though it's a somewhat literary or journalistic device. It's used to describe any extremely lengthy and arduous struggle, such as a legal case, a political rivalry, or a family feud.
A protracted series of conflicts between England and France from 1337 to 1453.
Hundred years' war is usually formal, historical, academic in register.
Hundred years' war: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhʌndrəd jɪəz ˈwɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhʌndrəd jɪrz ˈwɔr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It felt like a hundred years' war just to get planning permission.”
- “Their office dispute turned into a corporate hundred years' war.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: '100' years is a very long time for a 'war'—it emphasizes the extraordinary duration.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A CONTAINER FOR CONFLICT (a war contained within a century); A PROLONGED STRUGGLE IS A HISTORICAL WAR.
Practice
Quiz
What was a primary cause of the Hundred Years' War?