combatant
noun
com·bat·ant
kəm-ˈba-tᵊnt 
also ˈkäm-bə-tənt
: 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
The use of the term caused alarm as international humanitarian law explicitly forbids armed forces from denying enemy combatants to surrender and instead killing them.
—
Christopher Cann, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Though active hostilities have paused for the moment, the conflict has already exacted a tragic toll on combatants and civilians alike, threatened global stability and underscored in stark relief the grim reality of war.
—William E. Lori, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
Schuster said, like any enemy combatant or materials seized from an enemy in the course of armed conflict.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026
Lebanese officials say more than 180 people killed were children, but have not said how many killed were combatants.
—Daniel Estrin, NPR, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for combatant
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Christopher Cann, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Though active hostilities have paused for the moment, the conflict has already exacted a tragic toll on combatants and civilians alike, threatened global stability and underscored in stark relief the grim reality of war.
—William E. Lori, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
Schuster said, like any enemy combatant or materials seized from an enemy in the course of armed conflict.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026
Lebanese officials say more than 180 people killed were children, but have not said how many killed were combatants.
—Daniel Estrin, NPR, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for combatant
Cite this Entry
“Combatant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/combatant. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
combatant
noun
com·bat·ant
kəm-ˈbat-ᵊnt
also ˈkäm-bət-
: one that is engaged in or ready to engage in combat
combatant
adjective
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