Antiwar

/ˌæntiˈwɔr/ adjective, noun

Definition

Opposed to war; relating to organized opposition against warfare or a specific military conflict.

Etymology

From 'anti-' (against) plus 'war' (from Old Germanic). The term became widespread during the 20th century, especially during Vietnam War protests.

Kelly Says

The antiwar movement of the 1960s created a whole vocabulary—from 'war machine' to 'military-industrial complex'—that fundamentally changed how people talked about conflict and weapons.

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Antiwar movements have historically centered male conscription and male combatant experiences, often marginalizing women's war experiences: nurses, civilians, sexual violence survivors, and displacement.

Inclusive Usage

Use naturally but recognize antiwar advocacy should include women's experiences of conflict—not only soldiers' perspectives.

Empowerment Note

Women peace activists (Bertha von Suttner, Jane Addams, contemporary feminist antiwar scholars) articulated peace frameworks centered on care, reconstruction, and survival, not only on rejecting combat.

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