combat

1 of 3

noun

com·​bat ˈkäm-ˌbat 

1

: a fight or contest between individuals or groups

2

: conflict, controversy

3

: active fighting in a war : action

casualties suffered in combat

combat

2 of 3

verb

com·​bat kəm-ˈbat  ˈkäm-ˌbat 

combated or combatted; combating or combatting

intransitive verb

: to engage in combat : fight

transitive verb

1

: to fight with : battle

2

: to struggle against

especially : to strive to reduce or eliminate

combat pollution

combat

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adjective

com·​bat ˈkäm-ˌbat 

1

: relating to combat

combat missions

2

: designed or destined for combat

combat boots

combat troops

Synonyms of combat

Noun

• field
• attack
• battle
• fire
• action
• hostilities

Verb

• fight
• battle

Choose the Right Synonym for combat

oppose, combat, resist, withstand mean to set oneself against someone or something.

oppose can apply to any conflict, from mere objection to bitter hostility or warfare.

opposed the plan

combat stresses the forceful or urgent countering of something.

combat disease

resist implies an overt recognition of a hostile or threatening force and a positive effort to counteract or repel it.

resisting temptation

withstand suggests a more passive resistance.

trying to withstand peer pressure

Examples of combat in a Sentence

Noun

Some of these soldiers have never seen combat.

He was killed in combat.

Verb

The drug helps combat infection.

She dedicated her life to combating poverty.

Exercise can help combat the effects of stress.

The mayor pledged to combat crime.

They have been combating the rebels for months.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The robot was explicitly designed for combat-adjacent roles, including reconnaissance, bomb disposal, and high-risk ground operations. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Dec. 2025

Urban likens it to Jackie Chan's style of combat, the way the Rush Hour and Karate Kid star's fast-paced, precise martial arts moves are paired with hijinks. —Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Dec. 2025

Verb

Noboa has deployed troops to combat the violence — to little effect. —CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025

To combat the fiscal deficit, Meunier said the company maximized the production of the Rogue in Smyrna, which, in part, helped grow the company’s domestic market share from 4% to 5%. —Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 17 Dec. 2025

Adjective

Military aircraft were previously exempt from the same requirement, but in the aftermath of January's crash, a bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation to require military planes to broadcast their location during non-combat missions. —Zach Wichter, USA Today, 15 Dec. 2025

The continuing non-combat losses and training flight failures point to persistent operational and maintenance challenges within Russia’s air fleet as the war grinds on. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 13 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French, from combatre to attack, fight, from Vulgar Latin *combattere, from Latin com- + battuere to beat

First Known Use

Noun

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1564, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Adjective

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing combat

• combat fatigue
• hors de combat
• mortal combat
• single combat

Kids Definition

combat

1 of 2 noun

com·​bat ˈkäm-ˌbat 

1

: a fight or contest between individuals or groups

2

: conflict entry 1 sense 2

3

: active fighting in a war : action

soldiers experienced in combat

combat

2 of 2 verb

com·​bat kəm-ˈbat 

ˈkäm-ˌbat

combated or combatted; combating or combatting

1

: to fight with : battle

2

: to struggle against

especially : to strive to reduce or eliminate

combat disease