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.
The Taiwanese navy is planning to invest heavily in large surface combatants, including a new 7,000-ton warship and as many as 12 3,000-ton light frigates. — Holmes Liao, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026 The Dominion battled right back with a pair of stereo suplexes, but Jamie Hayter and Alex Windsor hit stereo clotheslines as all four combatants were laid out. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 In a campaign known as Operation Wandering Soul, US forces played recordings of eerie sounds and voices where combatants were fighting in the jungle. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026 The Korean War of 1950-1953 made the Cold War global, with China and the United States as direct combatants. — Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 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

Rhymes for combatant

See All Rhymes for combatant

Browse Nearby Words

combat
combatant
combat boot
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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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

More from Merriam-Webster on combatant

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for combatant

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