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.
Schuster said, like any enemy combatant or materials seized from an enemy in the course of armed conflict. Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026 Lebanese officials say more than 180 people killed were children, but have not said how many killed were combatants. Daniel Estrin, NPR, 16 Apr. 2026 Growing evidence shows regional powers like the United Arab Emirates backing combatants behind the scenes. Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026 The footage featured a massive robot fighting what appeared to be another massive robot, though the second combatant could have been an alien or a mechanical monster, or something. Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Apr. 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 24 Apr. 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

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