fighter

American  

[fahy-ter] / ˈfaɪ tər /

noun

1. a boxer; pugilist.

2. Military. an aircraft designed to seek out and destroy enemy aircraft in the air and to protect bomber aircraft.

3. a person who fights, struggles, resists, etc.

4. a person with the will, courage, determination, ability, or disposition to fight, struggle, resist, etc.

5. an animal, as a dog, trained to fight or having the disposition to fight.

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fighter British  

/ ˈfaɪtə /

noun

1. a person who fights, esp a professional boxer

2. a person who has determination

3. military an armed aircraft designed for destroying other aircraft

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Other Word Forms

• nonfighter noun

Etymology

Origin of fighter

before 1000; Middle English; Old English fēohtere. See fight, -er ¹

Example Sentences

The trainer coached a run of world-beating fighters from an early age from his gym in an old church hall in Wincobank in the east end of Sheffield.

From BBC

Taiwan has temporarily grounded its fleet of F-16 fighter jets for inspection, the defence minister said Thursday, as the search continued for a pilot whose aircraft apparently crashed into the sea.

From Barron's

In March 2025, the Kurdish-led SDF, which controls much of Syria's north-east and has tens of thousands of fighters, signed a deal to integrate all military and civilian institutions into the Syrian state.

From BBC

“EW is not as well understood by people, and it is not as visible or catchy as buying fighter planes or ships,” said Frank Kendall, who served as the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

Guerrilla Arakan Army fighters -- one of the many factions challenging the junta's rule -- control swathes of jungle across the border with Myanmar.

From Barron's

Related Words

• assailant
• boxer
• champion
• combatant
• mercenary
• militant
• opponent
• soldier
• tanker
• warlord
• warrior