noncombatant
Americannoun
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a person connected with a military force in some capacity other than that of a fighter, as a surgeon or chaplain.
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a person who is not directly involved in combat; a civilian in wartime.
adjective
noun
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a civilian in time of war
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a member of the armed forces whose duties do not include fighting, such as a chaplain or surgeon
Etymology
Origin of noncombatant
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.
In June 1967, you could have found me standing in line outside the Jewish Agency in Manhattan, hoping to register as a noncombatant in the Six-Day War.
From Salon • Mar. 31, 2024
But under international humanitarian law, it is illegal for a fighter to pose as a doctor — or any other noncombatant civilian.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 2, 2024
Air Force, “the largest noncombatant evacuation operation in American history.”
From New York Times • Oct. 4, 2022
The U.S. military, said one official, did not see indications of other noncombatant casualties but cannot rule it out because the forces were not on the ground long enough to dig through all the rubble.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 10, 2022
An unexpected, a singularly noncombatant, note came into Mrs. Glass’s voice.
From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
