belligerent

[ buh-lij-er-uhnt ]
See synonyms for: belligerentbelligerents on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. warlike; given to waging war.

  2. of warlike character; aggressively hostile; bellicose: a belligerent tone.

  1. waging war; engaged in war: a peace treaty between belligerent powers.

  2. pertaining to war or to those engaged in war: belligerent rights.

noun
  1. a state or nation at war.

  2. a member of the military forces of such a state.

Origin of belligerent

1
First recorded in 1570–80; earlier belligerant, from Latin belligerant-, stem of belligerāns “waging war,” present participle of belligerāre “to wage war,” verb derivative of belliger “warlike,” from belli- (combining form of bellum, earlier duellum “war”; cf. duel ) + ger(ere) “to carry, conduct, display”

Other words for belligerent

Other words from belligerent

  • bel·lig·er·ent·ly, adverb
  • in·ter·bel·lig·er·ent, adjective
  • un·bel·lig·er·ent, adjective
  • un·bel·lig·er·ent·ly, adverb

Words that may be confused with belligerent

Words Nearby belligerent

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use belligerent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for belligerent

belligerent

/ (bɪˈlɪdʒərənt) /


adjective
  1. marked by readiness to fight or argue; aggressive: a belligerent tone

  2. relating to or engaged in a legally recognized war or warfare

noun
  1. a person or country engaged in fighting or war

Origin of belligerent

1
C16: from Latin belliger, from bellum war + gerere to wage

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012