combat

[ verb kuhm-bat, kom-bat, kuhm-; noun kom-bat, kuhm- ]

verb (used with object)

, com·bat·ed, com·bat·ing or (especially British) com·bat·ted, com·bat·ting.

1. to fight or contend against; oppose vigorously:

   to combat crime.

   Synonyms: contest, struggle

verb (used without object)

, com·bat·ed, com·bat·ing or (especially British) com·bat·ted, com·bat·ting.

1. to battle; contend:

   to combat with disease.

   Synonyms: contest, struggle

noun

1. Military. active, armed fighting with enemy forces.
2. a fight, struggle, or controversy, as between two persons, teams, or ideas.

combat

noun

1. a fight, conflict, or struggle
2. 1. an action fought between two military forces
   2. ( as modifier )

      a combat jacket

3. single combat
   single combat a fight between two individuals; duel
4. close combat
   close combathand-to-hand combat fighting at close quarters

verb

1. tr to fight or defy
2. intr; often foll by with or against to struggle or strive (against); be in conflict (with)

   to combat against disease

Derived Forms

• comˈbater, noun
• comˈbatable, adjective

Other Words From

• com·bata·ble adjective
• inter·combat noun
• pre·combat noun verb precombated precombating or (especially British) precombatted precombatting
• self-com·bating adjective
• uncom·bata·ble adjective
• uncom·bated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of combat¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Middle French combat (noun), combattre (verb), from Late Latin combattere, from Latin com- com- + Late Latin battere, from Latin battuere “to strike, beat”

Word History and Origins

Origin of combat¹

C16: from French, from Old French combattre, from Vulgar Latin combattere (unattested), from Latin com- with + battuere to beat, hit

Synonym Study

See fight

Example Sentences

It was a fitting start for the man now known as Arslan Ash, a 24-year-old esports superstar thanks to his prowess at the combat game Tekken.

From Ozy

The combat appeared on a video screen with small blips for each aircraft.

From Fortune

As one of the biggest fires on a Navy ship outside of combat smoldered for a third day, so raged community members’ concerns over the contents of the billowing smoke.

From Voice of San Diego

All but one woman showed signs of having ridden horses in combat.

From Science News For Students

This naval tactic gave the Romans the upper-hand since they were known for their expertise in close-quarter combat.

From Realm of History

The Perfect Storm writer talks combat brotherhood and the threat posed by growing wealth inequality.

From The Daily Beast

The State Innovation Exchange, a Democratic group, has been set up to combat corporate-led right-wing organizations.

From The Daily Beast

From 2012 to 2013, 31 men left Aarhus bound for combat in Syria.

From The Daily Beast

It was an attempt to combat a growing chill on free speech in Turkey while placing his newspaper at the center of the debate.

From The Daily Beast

Excessive force to combat minor infractions of the law is the central issue today.

From The Daily Beast

He looked strangely out of place in the dusty combat uniform.

From Project Gutenberg

The morning came and with it Shaffer, and with him five hundred and fifty men, eager for the combat.

From Project Gutenberg

Wright and his followers regard the opsonic index as an index of the power of the body to combat bacterial invasion.

From Project Gutenberg

But Strongarm lived in the age of combat when people fought animals at close range.

From Project Gutenberg

He demands from the king the gift of the first combat that shall offer, which is granted as a mere joke.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cope
• fight
• oppose
• repel
• resist
• withstand

More About Combat

What does combat mean?

Combat is most commonly used in a military context to refer to active fighting among opposing armies. To engage in combat is to engage in fighting.

This kind of combat most commonly takes place on a battlefield or warzone on the ground (called a combat zone). Aerial combat involves fighting in the air among air forces.

Hand-to-hand combat involves close fighting, often literally with one’s hands.

Combat is often used as a modifier (adjective) in terms that refer to things related to or involving combat, such as combat training, combat medic, combat fatigue, and combat boots.

Combat is sometimes used more broadly or figuratively to refer to active conflict between two people or groups, as in The two corporations are preparing to do combat in the courtroom. The term verbal combat refers to fighting with words.

Combat is also commonly used as a verb meaning to oppose or work to defeat. It’s especially used when the thing to be defeated is intangible or abstract, as in We need to combat climate change or Our organization works to combat poverty. The figurative senses of the verbs fight and battle are close synonyms of this sense of combat.

The sides engaging in combat can be called combatants. The adjective combative means inclined to fight.

Example: The objective of basic training is to prepare our soldiers for combat.

Where does combat come from?

The first records of the word combat come from the 1500s. It comes from the Late Latin combattere, from com-, meaning “with” or “together,” and the Latin verb battuere, meaning “to strike” or “to beat.” The word battle is based on this same root.

Combat most often implies physical fighting. Military combat on a battlefield can involve close combat—hand-to-hand fighting. This is how the word is used in the name of the popular and controversial video game series Mortal Kombat. The title calls to mind the term martial combat, which is fighting using martial arts.

When combat is used as a verb, it often likens the conflict to a military battle, implying that the thing that’s being combatted is a formidable opponent—that it won’t be defeated without a fight.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to combat? 

• combatable (adjective)

What are some synonyms for the noun combat?

• fighting
• warfare
• action
• conflict

What are some synonyms for the verb combat?

• fight
• battle

What are some words that share a root or word element with combat? 

• combat zone
• combat-ready
• combat fatigue
• combat boots
• combatant
• combative

What are some words that often get used in discussing combat?

• war
• battle
• military
• fight
• aerial
• naval
• skirmish
• hand-to-hand
• close
• infantry
• zone
• mortal

How is combat used in real life?

Combat is most commonly used in terms of military action. As a verb, it usually means to work to change a negative situation.

73 yrs ago tomorrow was my dad's 1st day of combat in WWII. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge & was badly wounded. They really were the Greatest Generation & suffered things we can't imagine. I re read his "war diary" today. Here's a piece. #VeteransDay pic.twitter.com/aDdTCato3j

— Jimmy Roberts (@JimmyRobertsNBC) November 10, 2017

BREAKING: Civil rights lawyer Larry Krasner, who wants to combat justice system inequalities, is elected Philly's top prosecutor.

— The Associated Press (@AP) November 8, 2017

"Food systems are the dark horse of climate change."

Even if emissions from fossil fuel burning were halted immediately, we still cannot combat the climate crisis without taking on animal agriculture's ever-rising greenhouse gas emissions.https://t.co/akA8o8P8Cs

— Friends of the Earth (Action) (@foe_us) November 16, 2020

 

Try using combat!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of combat? 

A. warfare
B. action
C. peace
D. fighting