: active fighting especially in a war
troops ready for combat
Some of these soldiers have never seen combat.
He was killed in combat.
armed/unarmed combat
—often used before another nouncombat operations/missions
combat boots
a combat zone
combats; combated also combatted; combating also combatting
1
: to try to stop (something) from happening or getting worse
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.
2
formal
: to fight against (someone) : to engage in combat against (an enemy)
They have been combating the rebels for months.
Cite this Entry
“Combat.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/combat. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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