cobelligerent

American  

[koh-buh-lij-er-uhnt] / ˌkoʊ bəˈlɪdʒ ər ənt /

noun

1. a state or individual that cooperates with, but is not bound by a formal alliance to another in waging war.

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cobelligerent British  

/ ˌkəʊbɪˈlɪdʒərənt /

noun

1. a country fighting in a war on the side of another country

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Etymology

Origin of cobelligerent

First recorded in 1805–15; co- + belligerent

Example Sentences

If Badoglio's cobelligerent Italy was a military plus and an economic minus, politically it was a plain enigma.

From Time Magazine Archive

They wanted Italy to have the full status of a willing cobelligerent and an ally against the Germans.

From Time Magazine Archive

But the line between cobelligerent and ally was hard to draw.

From Time Magazine Archive

He argued from a sound position: the U.S. owed a certain loyalty to its principal cobelligerent, South Korea, and South Korea's Syngman Rhee was firmly opposed to having India at the conference.

From Time Magazine Archive

But, economically, cobelligerent Italy looms as a headache.

From Time Magazine Archive