combatant

noun

com·​bat·​ant kəm-ˈba-tᵊnt How to pronounce combatant (audio)
also ˈkäm-bə-tənt
Synonyms of combatantnext
: 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.
International law governing warfare bars strikes on structures, vehicles and people that are not military objectives and combatants. Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2026 International law governing warfare bars strikes on structures, vehicles and people that are not military objectives and combatants. Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026 One of the largest warships in the fleet The Type 055 is the largest surface combatant currently operated by the Chinese Navy. Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 10 Mar. 2026 Israel did not directly fight as a combatant in the 2003 Iraq War. Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026 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

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Cite this Entry

“Combatant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/combatant. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on combatant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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