combatant

noun

com·​bat·​ant kəm-ˈba-tᵊnt How to pronounce combatant (audio)
 also  ˈkäm-bə-tənt
: one that is engaged in or ready to engage in combat
combatant adjective

Examples of combatant in a Sentence

Britain was a main combatant in World War II.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
However, the ministry has not differentiated between combatants and noncombatants in its figures. Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025 That figure does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 15 Jan. 2025 Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, at least half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants. Samy Magdy and Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2025 Those actions have killed more than 40,000 people, most of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Adam Taylor The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 13 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for combatant 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of combatant was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near combatant

Cite this Entry

“Combatant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/combatant. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

combatant

noun
com·​bat·​ant kəm-ˈbat-ᵊnt How to pronounce combatant (audio)
 also  ˈkäm-bət-
: one that is engaged in or ready to engage in combat
combatant adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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