nonbelligerent

1 of 3

adjective

non·​bel·​lig·​er·​ent ˌnän-bə-ˈlij-rənt 

-ˈli-jə-

: not belligerent: such as

a

: not waging war

nonbelligerent countries

b

: not hostile or combative

a nonbelligerent attitude

nonbelligerency

ˌnän-bə-ˈlij-rən(t)-sē 

-ˈli-jə-

noun

or less commonly nonbelligerence

ˌnän-bə-ˈlij-rən(t)s 

-ˈli-jə-

a nonbelligerency agreement

nonbelligerent

2 of 3

noun (1)

: a nonbelligerent country

specifically : a country that refrains from direct participation in a war but openly favors and usually gives aid in varying degree and kind to one of the belligerents

nonbelligerency

3 of 3

noun (2)

non·​belligerency "+ 

1

: the status of not being at war : the status of not being a belligerent

2

: the status or attitude of a country that refrains from direct participation in a war but openly favors and usually gives unneutral aid in varying degree and kind to one of the belligerents

after the fall of France the United States shifted to nonbelligerency and intervention

—A. P. Whitaker

Examples of nonbelligerent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

For not wanting to be nonbelligerent by naming the terms for belligerence. —Solmaz Sharif, The New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2022

Over time, such cooperation could gradually acclimate Arab peoples to a nonbelligerent stance toward Israel. —Charles Krauthammer, Twin Cities, 30 May 2017

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

non- entry 1 + belligerency

First Known Use

Adjective

1795, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

1810, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nonbelligerent

• belligerent
• refrigerant