战斧，指专为近距离作战使用的斧头。根据使用方式分为短柄斧和长柄斧。在中国古文中，斧以“戉”称呼，后逐渐被“戚”所代替。而比较重的斧头则称之为钺。

战斧通常来说远比现在的砍斧要轻，即使是重战斧也比锤斧要轻很多。这是因为战斧的主要目标是敌方人员或坐骑的四肢而不是厚重的木石，因此传统上战斧会有比较尖细的锋刃。这样可以对敌方造成大面积的深入伤口。作为短兵器，战斧可以更简单和迅速的进入作战状态。

熟铁加碳钢的新月形欧洲战斧在罗马时代和后罗马时代就已经出现，并在之后的许多个世纪里慢慢发展着。对于西方人来说，战斧是维京人的标志武器。从公元8世纪到11世纪维京人的全盛时期，斯堪的纳维亚的步兵和海盗们就把战斧作为标准配备兵器。

A battle axe (also battle-axe or battle-ax) is an axe specifically designed for combat. Battle axes were specialized versions of utility axes. Many were suitable for use in one hand, while others were larger and were deployed two-handed.

Axes designed for warfare ranged in weight from just over 0.5 kg to 3 kg ( 1 to 6 pounds), and in length from just over 30 cm to upwards of 1.5 m (1 to 5 feet), as in the case of the Danish axe or the sparth axe. Cleaving weapons longer than 1.5 m would arguably fall into the category of polearms.