fighter
[fahy-ter]
- a boxer; pugilist.
- Military. an aircraft designed to seek out and destroy enemy aircraft in the air and to protect bomber aircraft.
- a person who fights, struggles, resists, etc.
- a person with the will, courage, determination, ability, or disposition to fight, struggle, resist, etc.
- an animal, as a dog, trained to fight or having the disposition to fight.
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Origin of fighter
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
warriorchampionmercenaryassailantmilitantsoldierboxercombatantopponenttankerwarlordheavycompetitorbullyrivalbelligerentcontenderpugilistaggressorantagonistExamples from the Web for fighter
Contemporary Examples
Back then, no one ever imagined needing to beam live video to ground troops from a fighter jet.
The Islamic State, or ISIS, claims it has shot down a Jordanian fighter jet and captured its pilot.
“Getting a first shot is one thing,” said a former Air Force fighter pilot with extensive experience with Russian weapons.
American fighter planes are the fastest, most maneuverable jets in the world.
Reuters, for instance, reported flatly: “Russian TV channel says photos show MH17 shot down by fighter jet.”
Digital Doublethink: Playing Truth or Dare with Putin, Assad and ISISChristopher Dickey, Anna Nemtsova
November 16, 2014
Historical Examples
I seen some hard times myself, and this boy's father was a fighter, too.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
He was suffering, and chiefly for her, and what a fighter he was!
Southern Lights and ShadowsVarious
Bismarck inveighs against the ingratitude of kings—A fighter to the end.
Blood and IronJohn Hubert Greusel
We cracked up on a fighter strip while bombing with Mustangs.
A Yankee Flier Over BerlinAl Avery
"You fighter pilots always forget the cameras," the major said sourly.
A Yankee Flier Over BerlinAl Avery
fighter
- a person who fights, esp a professional boxer
- a person who has determination
- military an armed aircraft designed for destroying other aircraft
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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
Word Origin and History for fighter
n.
Old English feohtere; agent noun from fight (v.). Cf. German Fechter. Meaning "fast military airplane used for combat" is from 1917.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper