English Explanatory Dictionary

casus belli

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An act seen as justifying or causing a war; an act of war.

Pronunciation

/ˈkeɪ.səs ˈbɛl.aɪ/ /ˌkɑː-/ /-ˈbɛl.i/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-casus belli.wav

Word forms

casus belli casus bellis

Etymology

From Latin cāsus (“occasion”) + bellī (“for war”, literally “of war”).

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