fighter

noun

fight·​er ˈfī-tər How to pronounce fighter (audio)
Synonyms of fighternext
: one that fights: such as
a(1)
: warrior, soldier
(2)
: a pugnacious or game individual
(3)
: boxer entry 1 sense 1
b
: an airplane of high speed and maneuverability with armament designed to destroy enemy aircraft

Synonyms of fighter

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Examples of fighter in a Sentence

the debate whether more fighters are needed to bring order to that war-torn country a program at the community center for training local youths as fighters
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.
Accompanying Álvarez were Mexicans Carlos Emiliano, Manuel Salcedo, Rafael Espinoza and Jaime Munguía, as well as Saudi fighter Sultan Al-Muhammad — all of whom were on the fight card. — Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026 In August, at Finland’s request, the Swedish government deployed fighter aircraft and a warship to help patrol Finland’s eastern airspace and the Gulf of Finland against Russian air incursions and drones straying from Ukrainian operations. — Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026 Late Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces had destroyed two Russian Su-34 fighter jets and struck an Iskander missile launcher. — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2026 Another witness told the AP that the explosion was massive and killed many fighters. — Yassir Abdalla, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fighter

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fighter was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing fighter

Rhymes for fighter

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Browse Nearby Words

fight back tears
fighter
fighter-bomber
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Cite this Entry

“Fighter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fighter. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

fighter

noun
fight·​er ˈfīt-ər How to pronounce fighter (audio)
: one that fights:
a
: warrior, soldier
b
: boxer entry 1
c
: a fast airplane armed with weapons for destroying enemy aircraft
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