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Casus belli

//ˈkeɪ.səs ˈbɛl.aɪ// noun

Definitions

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

    "In ancient times, repeatedly failing to pay tribute by a vassal state was often used as a casus belli by the patron."

  2. 2
    an event used to justify starting a war wordnet

Etymology

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

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Unscramble this word: casusbelli