Meaning & use
postwar
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Belonging to or happening in the period after a war, especially after the Second World War.
Grammar: Used before a noun, as in 'postwar years'; not usually after a verb.
Patterns
- postwar period
- postwar years
- postwar economy
- postwar society
The postwar years brought rapid economic growth and social change.
Many postwar buildings were constructed quickly and cheaply.
The novel explores life in a postwar society struggling to rebuild.
adjectivebefore a noun
Relating to the time immediately after any particular war, as specified by context.
Grammar: Still used before a noun; the specific war is understood from the situation.
Patterns
- postwar reconstruction
- postwar treaty
The postwar treaty was signed within months of the conflict ending.
Postwar reconstruction efforts focused on rebuilding hospitals and schools.
Common combinations
- postwar period
- The postwar period saw the rise of new political movements.
- postwar economy
- The postwar economy boomed as factories reopened.
- postwar generation
- The postwar generation grew up with a sense of optimism.
- postwar reconstruction
- International aid supported postwar reconstruction.
Synonyms and how they differ
- after-war
- Less common and more literal; 'postwar' is the standard term.
Opposites
Word family
- war noun
- Armed conflict between groups or countries.
- prewar adjective
- Belonging to the period before a war.
Commonly confused: postwar or post-war?
postwar vs post-war
Same meaning; the hyphenated form is also correct, especially in British English.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
'Postwar' means after a war, so 'in the 1950s' fits if the war ended earlier. The other options place the boom during or before the war, which contradicts the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “postwar”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.