noncombatant

noun

non·​com·​bat·​ant ˌnän-kəm-ˈba-tᵊnt How to pronounce noncombatant (audio)
also
ˌnän-ˈkäm-bə-tənt How to pronounce noncombatant (audio)
: one that does not engage in combat: such as
a
: a member (such as a chaplain) of the armed forces whose duties do not include fighting
b
noncombatant adjective

Examples of noncombatant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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His cases there included the successful prosecution — in a 25-month trial — of a Croatian general who ordered the slaughter of Muslim noncombatants. Dan Sullivan, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2025 And of course, Israel itself lost nearly 700 civilians in the October 7 attacks, while many noncombatants are still held hostage by Hamas and other militant groups. Bryan Walsh, Vox, 26 May 2025 The Palestinian Health Ministry has recorded the deaths of nearly 48,500 people, without distinguishing between combatants and noncombatants, throughout the war. Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025 Previously, noncombatants who wanted to participate mostly did so by raising war bonds. Mick Ryan, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for noncombatant

Word History

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of noncombatant was in 1811

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Noncombatant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/noncombatant. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

noncombatant

noun
non·​com·​ba·​tant
ˌnän-kəm-ˈbat-ᵊnt,
(ˈ)nän-ˈkäm-bət-ənt
1
: a member (as a chaplain) of the armed forces whose duties do not include fighting
2
noncombatant adjective

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