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Synonyms

belligerency

American  
[buh-lij-er-uhn-see] / bəˈlɪdʒ ər ən si /

noun

  1. the position or status as a belligerent; state of being actually engaged in war.

  2. belligerence.


belligerency British  
/ bɪˈlɪdʒərənsɪ /

noun

  1. the state of being at war

"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

Etymology

Origin of belligerency

First recorded in 1860–65; belliger(ent) + -ency

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

"We do want to have the region come to terms between all the countries and agree against any belligerency from any side to any other."

From Reuters Nov. 5, 2022

His belligerency and weapons programs make it difficult.

From Washington Post May 13, 2022

Since Japan did not formally declare war on China, a state of belligerency did not technically exist.

From Textbooks Dec. 30, 2014

Whether it works or not, it shows how much the nature of modern belligerency is changing.

From Economist Oct. 12, 2011

When events moved us in the direction of belligerency, the government sought feverishly to regiment the nation for the war struggle.

From Emma Goldman Biographical Sketch by Madison, Charles Allan

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