combatant

[kuhm-bat-nt, kom-buh-tuhnt, kuhm-]

noun

1. a nation engaged in active fighting with enemy forces.

2. a person or group that fights.

adjective

1. combating; fighting.

   the combatant armies.

2. disposed to combat; combative.

combatant

/ ˈkʌm-, ˈkɒmbətənt /

noun

1. a person or group engaged in or prepared for a fight, struggle, or dispute

adjective

1. engaged in or ready for combat

Other Word Forms

• precombatant noun
• uncombatant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of combatant¹

1425–75; late Middle English combataunt < Middle French combatant. See combat, -ant

Example Sentences

The data does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but indicates that more than half of the dead are women and children.

Read more on Barron's

Since then, fighting has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, who don’t say how many were combatants.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In either case, it’s hard to make out what’s going on or even which man has the advantage, as the combatants frequently curl up into a single lump of flesh.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The number of people killed in the war climbed well above 60,000, according to Palestinian health authorities, who don’t say how many were combatants.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The war in Gaza has left the enclave in ruins and killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, who don’t say how many are combatants.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• adversary 
• antagonist 
• assailant 
• attacker www.thesaurus.com
• enemy 
• serviceman 
• soldier 

When To Use

What does combatant mean?

A combatant is one of the sides engaged in combat—active fighting.In war, enemy combatants are the opposing sides in the war or battle.In boxing and other martial arts, the two fighters can be called combatants.The word 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 sides in this kind of combat can also be called combatants.Less commonly, combatant can be used as an adjective meaning engaged in fighting. It can also mean inclined to fight, but the word combative is more commonly used in this way.Example: If diplomacy fails, the two nations could become enemy combatants.