noncombatant
noun
non·com·bat·ant
ˌnän-kəm-ˈba-tᵊnt 
also
ˌnän-ˈkäm-bə-tənt
: 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
: civilian
noncombatant
adjective
Examples of noncombatant in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Israel has accused Hamas of operating in civilian areas, thus necessitating attacks that endanger noncombatants.
—
Matt Bradley, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025
Israeli officials deny any systematic violations of international law and assert that Hamas routinely used noncombatants as human shields and smuggled humanitarian assistance, accusations denied by the militant group.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
Many have died, including thousands of noncombatants, according to officials at government agencies run by Hamas.
—Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2025
The government accused the Druze of resisting its rule and, in combination with tens of thousands of Bedouin tribal fighters, attacked Druze villages, killing hundreds of people, including many noncombatants.
—Steven N. Simon, Foreign Affairs, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for noncombatant
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Matt Bradley, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025
Israeli officials deny any systematic violations of international law and assert that Hamas routinely used noncombatants as human shields and smuggled humanitarian assistance, accusations denied by the militant group.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
Many have died, including thousands of noncombatants, according to officials at government agencies run by Hamas.
—Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2025
The government accused the Druze of resisting its rule and, in combination with tens of thousands of Bedouin tribal fighters, attacked Druze villages, killing hundreds of people, including many noncombatants.
—Steven N. Simon, Foreign Affairs, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for noncombatant
Cite this Entry
“Noncombatant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/noncombatant. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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