# fighter

/ˈfaɪtɝ/ (US) · /fˈaɪtɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fighter
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. soldier or combatant

noun · CEFR A2

a person who fights in a battle or war.

For teachers: an individual engaged in physical combat, typically a soldier or warrior.

- The brave fighters defended the city for many weeks.
- The resistance fighters operated from the dense forests, launching strategic strikes against the occupying forces' supply lines.

### 2. athlete in combat sports

noun · CEFR A2

someone who takes part in sports like boxing or karate.

For teachers: a professional or amateur participant in combat sports, such as boxing, wrestling, or mixed martial arts.

- The two fighters shook hands before the boxing match started.
- The young fighter spent months in a high-altitude training camp to improve his cardiovascular endurance before the title bout.

### 3. determined person

noun · CEFR B1 · Literary

someone who shows great courage and does not give up when things are very difficult.

For teachers: a person characterized by strong determination and resilience, especially when facing illness or severe personal adversity.

- She is a real fighter and refused to let her illness stop her from working.
- Despite the grim prognosis, he remained a fighter, maintaining a positive outlook that inspired everyone in the ward.

### 4. military aircraft

noun · CEFR B1

a fast military plane designed to attack other planes.

For teachers: a high-speed military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat against other aircraft.

- The sound of fighter jets flying over the house was very loud.
- The air force deployed several squadrons of advanced fighters to establish air superiority over the disputed territory.

### 5. firefighter

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a person whose job is to stop fires.

For teachers: a person employed to extinguish fires; a shortened form of firefighter.

- The local fighters arrived quickly to put out the forest fire.
- The veteran fighter adjusted his oxygen mask before entering the smoke-filled apartment complex to search for survivors.

## Examples

- The young boxer is a strong fighter.
- Despite the difficult diagnosis, she remained a fighter and never missed a single day of her treatment plan.
- Historians often distinguish between the professional soldier and the irregular fighter, noting that the latter's motivations are frequently rooted in local grievances rather than national strategy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.