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.
The United States is soon to begin airframe production of its new uncrewed fighter jet. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026 Swedish defense giant Saab reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings and revenue on Friday, as new orders more than tripled from a year earlier, boosted by a deal to supply Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine. — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026 Excavators unearthed the Soviet Yakovlev Yak-1 fighter aircraft from about 17 feet underground in the central Hungarian village of Törtel, which is located about 50 miles southeast of Budapest, museum officials said. — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 The plane's crew consisted of a fighter pilot and a weapons systems officer from the French Air and Space Force. — ABC News, 21 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 27 Oct. 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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