The Complete Vocabulary Builder Workbook

combatants

IPA:

Dictionary definition of combatants

Individuals or groups who are actively engaged in warfare or armed conflict.
"The combatants were subject to strict rules of engagement."

Detailed meaning of combatants

They can include members of the military, as well as non-state actors such as guerrilla fighters or terrorists. Combatants are typically recognized under international humanitarian law as having the right to participate in the hostilities, and are therefore entitled to certain protections under the laws of war. However, they are also subject to prosecution for war crimes if they violate the laws of war. Combatants can be distinguished from civilians, who are not directly involved in the hostilities and therefore have greater protections under international humanitarian law.

Example sentences containing combatants

1. The combatants clashed fiercely in the dimly lit battlefield.
2. Combatants from opposing armies met in a tense standoff.
3. The exhausted combatants sought refuge in the trenches.
4. Medics rushed to aid the wounded combatants.
5. Diplomacy failed to cease the bloodshed among the combatants.
6. Combatants bravely defended their homeland.

History and etymology of combatants

The noun 'combatants' traces its etymology to the Latin word 'combattens,' which is the present participle form of 'combattere,' meaning 'to fight' or 'to engage in combat.' In Latin, 'combattens' described individuals who were actively engaged in warfare or armed conflict. As the word evolved into Old French, it became 'combatant,' retaining the same sense of individuals or groups involved in combat. When 'combatant' was adopted into English, it continued to signify those who are actively engaged in warfare or armed conflict, emphasizing their role as participants in battle or combat. The etymology of 'combatants' underscores its historical connection to the concept of actively fighting and engaging in armed conflicts, highlighting the role of individuals or groups as participants in combat situations.

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Further usage examples of combatants

1. A ceasefire offered a brief respite for the combatants.
2. The combatants displayed unwavering determination.
3. Civilians were caught in the crossfire of the combatants.
4. Aid organizations struggled to reach trapped combatants.
5. Negotiations aimed at reconciling the combatants stalled.
6. The combatants' uniforms bore the scars of battle.
7. Combatants on both sides yearned for peace.
8. Fear gripped the hearts of the weary combatants.
9. The combatants' families anxiously awaited their return.
10. Humanitarian efforts aimed to alleviate suffering for combatants.
11. International pressure mounted to halt the combatants.
12. The combatants faced harsh conditions in the wilderness.
13. Combatants endured mental and physical hardships.
14. The combatants' stories revealed the horrors of war.
15. A truce briefly united the weary combatants.
16. The combatants' resolve remained unshaken.
17. Journalists risked their lives to document the combatants' plight.
18. The combatants yearned for a future without conflict.
19. History would remember the names of these brave combatants.

Synonyms

antagonist

belligerent

contender

fighter

gladiator

soldier

trooper

warrior

Quiz categories containing combatants

Prefix com-, Adversities and Complications, Competition and Rivalry, Crisis and Opposition, Fortitude and Rebellion, Chaos and Conflict, Fear and Ferocity, Effort and Exertion, Strategic Planning and Execution, Conflict and Conquest

antagonist,belligerent,contender

fighters, civilians, noncombatants, peacemakers

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fighter,gladiator,soldier,trooper,warrior