Main Entry:

bel·lig·er·ent

Pronunciation:

\-rənt\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

modification of Latin belligerant-, belligerans, present participle of belligerare to wage war, from belliger waging war, from bellum + gerere to wage

Date:

1577

1: waging war ; specifically : belonging to or recognized as a state at war and protected by and subject to the laws of war2: inclined to or exhibiting assertiveness, hostility, or combativeness

— belligerent noun

— bel·lig·er·ent·ly adverb

synonyms belligerent, bellicose, pugnacious, quarrelsome, contentious mean having an aggressive or fighting attitude. belligerent often implies being actually at war or engaged in hostilities <belligerent nations>. bellicose suggests a disposition to fight <a drunk in a bellicose mood>. pugnacious suggests a disposition that takes pleasure in personal combat <a pugnacious gangster>. quarrelsome stresses an ill-natured readiness to fight without good cause <the heat made us all quarrelsome>. contentious implies perverse and irritating fondness for arguing and quarreling <wearied by his contentious disposition>.