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combatant

combatant

65 5.6
A person who takes part in fighting, often a soldier in a war
  • noun
  • /ˈkɒmbətənt/
: combatiente
  • The brutal tactics used by both combatants during years of civil war have touched most of Angola's people.
  • enemy combatants
  • combatants and civilians
  • unlawful combatants

What is the ability of the combatants to initiate combat?

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Examples

  • All societies have recognized basic principles regarding the proper treatment of combatants and non-combatants in times of war.

    Academic text (1990)
  • The battle stalled as the combatants on each side struggled to take control.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • First, each of you is now an enemy combatant.

  • The fight is not over until one combatant perishes.

  • If there is a gun on the table, it is most likely that both combatants will choose it.

  • Neither of the human combatants paid her the least bit of attention.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Whenever combatants come back from the field in one piece, we buy each other a beer.

  • Multiple enemy combatants attempting to surrender at our position.

  • Britain is able to project sea power across oceans against local combatants like Argentina in the Falklands War.

    Academic text (1995)
  • During the war, each combatant was given specific roles and responsibilities.

Synonyms

warrior
vscombatant
761 3.9

A person who fights in battles as part of an army

is a person who fights but without implying experience or force membership
fighter
vscombatant
709 2.8

A person who fights for a cause or as a job

means a person who fights especially during war or armed conflict
militant
vscombatant
73 6.7

Actively taking part in armed fighting or war

means taking part in fighting, less about active ongoing hostilities
hostile
vscombatant
37 8.6

An enemy soldier

is a person who takes part in fighting, not necessarily an enemy
fierce warrior
vscombatant
7 4.1

A person who fights bravely and with great force in battle

is a person who fights without special emphasis on bravery or aggression
battler
vscombatant
4 6.0

A person who fights in a battle or keeps fighting through hard times

refers to physical participation in fighting, not the figurative persistent struggle
belligerent
vscombatant
3 8.1

A person, group, or country taking part in a war

is limited to an individual who takes part in fighting rather than groups
warfighter
vscombatant
  • Jargon
2 7.2

A person who fights in war or on military missions

refers to taking part in real fighting during war rather than training
agonist
vscombatant
1 8.6

A person who takes part in a contest or conflict as a main figure

is specific to taking part in fighting during war rather than general contests

Antonyms

537 2.6

A person who is not a soldier or police officer

1 7.3

Not taking part in fighting, especially for civilians during war

How Fierce

berserker
  • Literature
8 9.9
warrior
761 3.9
fighter
709 2.8
combatant
65 5.6
soldier
∞ 1.1

Surface Forms

combatant singular
combatants plural

Morphology

combatant = combat (transparent) = combat + ant

The noun is transparently formed from 'combat' + the agentive/nominal use of '-ant', meaning 'one who takes part in fighting'.

Etymology

The word combatant comes from com- 'with' and battere 'to beat', the same root as battle. So a combatant is a person who 'takes part in fighting'.