fighter

noun

fight·​er ˈfī-tər How to pronounce fighter (audio)
: one that fights: such as
a(1)
(2)
: a pugnacious or game individual
b
: an airplane of high speed and maneuverability with armament designed to destroy enemy aircraft

Examples of fighter in a Sentence

the debate whether more fighters are needed to bring order to that war-torn country a program at the community center for training local youths as fighters
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.
Today, our products power everything from the most advanced fighter aircraft, such as the F135 engine for the F-35, to the GTF engine for the most fuel-efficient narrowbody commercial jets. Shane Eddy, Hartford Courant, 22 July 2025 The fighter aircraft took off at 1:06 p.m. (0706 GMT) from the air force base in Dhaka's Kurmitola for a routine training mission, but experienced a mechanical failure soon after. Reuters, USA Today, 22 July 2025 Aside from the streaks and stats, the truth lies in the level of competition the fighters have faced. Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025 North American Aerospace Defense Command CF-18 fighter jets, left, and F-16 fighter jets, right, flying in formation near Little Diomede Island, Alaska, on July 10. Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for fighter

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fighter was in the 13th century

Cite this Entry

“Fighter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fighter. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

fighter

noun
fight·​er ˈfīt-ər How to pronounce fighter (audio)
: one that fights:
c
: a fast airplane armed with weapons for destroying enemy aircraft

More from Merriam-Webster on fighter

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!