A battle is a fight between opposing forces, usually armies, during a war. When two sides clash in combat, that specific fight is called a battle. The Battle of Gettysburg in 1863 was a major three-day battle during the American Civil War. The Battle of Britain in 1940 was fought in the skies over England between British and German air forces.

Battles differ from wars in an important way: a war is the overall conflict, while battles are the individual fights within it. World War II lasted six years and included hundreds of battles across multiple continents. You can lose several battles but still win the war, or win early battles but ultimately lose.

The word also describes any difficult struggle or competition. You might face a battle to finish a challenging book report on time, or watch two basketball teams battle for the championship. When someone fights a serious illness, we say they're battling cancer or battling the disease. A battle of wits means a contest of intelligence between clever opponents.

Scientists might battle to solve a difficult problem before their competitors do. Politicians battle over which policies are best. In these cases, battle suggests serious effort and real opposition, not just mild disagreement. When you're in a true battle, whether physical or otherwise, the outcome truly matters.