combatant
n.a person who takes part in a fight or war. You use this word to describe someone who is actively involved in a battle, whether as a soldier or a fighter.
n.a person who participates in a fight or war. Often used in legal or military contexts to distinguish active participants from civilians.
“The combatant was treated as a prisoner of war.”
“International law requires that all combatants be treated humanely, regardless of their side in the conflict.”
“The treaty sought to ensure that non-combatants were protected from the direct effects of the conflict, though enforcement remained a significant challenge for the peacekeeping forces.”
“Demobilised former combatants are actively joining the fight against Ebola by participating in public information campaigns in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).”
“The total number of deaths, including combatants, is estimated at 300,000.”
Inherited from late Middle English combataunt, from Middle French combatant. By surface analysis, combat + -ant. Doublet of combattant.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.