Unprepared as war returns (3)
I believe the answer is:
raw
'unprepared' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'war returns' is the wordplay.
'returns' says the letters should be written backwards.
'war' in reverse letter order is 'RAW'.
'as' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for raw that I've seen before include "Uncooked or sore" , "not yet ready to eat" , "Uncooked or crude" , "Uncooked or unsavoury" , "Red and inflamed" .)