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

And of course, Israel itself lost nearly 700 civilians in the October 7 attacks, while many noncombatants are still held hostage by Hamas and other militant groups. —Bryan Walsh, Vox, 26 May 2025

Anti-tank land mines cannot tell the difference between an enemy tank and a civilian car that drives over them, just as smaller anti-personnel mines are unable to distinguish whether they are being triggered by an enemy soldier or a noncombatant. —John Ismay, New York Times, 3 Dec. 2024

The Palestinian Health Ministry has recorded the deaths of nearly 48,500 people, without distinguishing between combatants and noncombatants, throughout the war. —Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025

Previously, noncombatants who wanted to participate mostly did so by raising war bonds. —Mick Ryan, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for noncombatant

• supernatant
• combatant
• patent

Kids Definition

noncombatant

noun

non·​com·​ba·​tant

ˌnän-kəm-ˈbat-ᵊnt,

(ˈ)nän-ˈkäm-bət-ənt

1

: a member (as a chaplain) of the armed forces whose duties do not include fighting

2

: civilian

noncombatant adjective