noncombatant

[non-kuhm-bat-nt, non-kom-buh-tnt]

noun

1. a person connected with a military force in some capacity other than that of a fighter, as a surgeon or chaplain.

2. a person who is not directly involved in combat; a civilian in wartime.

adjective

1. not constituting, designed for, or engaged in combat.

noncombatant

/ ˌnɒnˈkɒmbətənt /

noun

1. a civilian in time of war

2. a member of the armed forces whose duties do not include fighting, such as a chaplain or surgeon

Word History and Origins

Origin of noncombatant¹

First recorded in 1805–15; non- + combatant

Example Sentences

One IDF officer started by telling me that they worked hard to safeguard the lives of noncombatants.

From BBC

What about those who can and do serve as noncombatants?

From Salon

More 400 people have been killed in Lebanon, most of them fighters but also including more than 70 civilians and noncombatants.

From Seattle Times

Netanyahu has continued to face criticism at home and abroad throughout the war, which has killed 35,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between fighters and noncombatants.

From Seattle Times

The ministry does not distinguish between noncombatants and fighters in its count.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• disinterested 
• evenhanded 
• fair-minded 
• inactive 
• indifferent 
• nonaligned 
• nonpartisan 
• unbiased 
• uncommitted 
• undecided 
• uninvolved