combatant

noun

com·​bat·​ant kəm-ˈba-tᵊnt How to pronounce combatant (audio)
also ˈkäm-bə-tənt
Synonyms of combatantnext
: one that is engaged in or ready to engage in combat
combatant adjective

Examples of combatant in a Sentence

Britain was a main combatant in World War II.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
They were controlled by two sets of levers, with plastic buttons that made the combatants throw left jabs and right uppercuts. Jack Lang, New York Times, 5 July 2026 But combatants in the subcontinent were unaware of the initial truce that had been made in the West, and dozens more battles took place around the world. Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 2 July 2026 Also known as a truce, such an agreement is commonly understood to be a period between war and peace, in which the combatants agree to pause fighting while negotiations take place. ABC News, 1 July 2026 The rules called for the combatants to square off with just eight paces between them — rather than the 20 or 30 paces typical of the time — and both men hit their targets. Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for combatant

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of combatant was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Combatant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/combatant. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

combatant

noun
com·​bat·​ant kəm-ˈbat-ᵊnt How to pronounce combatant (audio)
also ˈkäm-bət-
: one that is engaged in or ready to engage in combat
combatant adjective

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