Phrase guide

illegal combatant

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A person who engages in combat without meeting the requirements for a lawful belligerent according to the laws of war as specified in the Third Geneva Convention.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: laiton taistelija — one who engages in combat without meeting the Geneva Convention
  • French: combattant illégal — one who engages in combat without meeting the Geneva Convention
  • German: ungesetzlicher Kombattant — one who engages in combat without meeting the Geneva Convention
  • Italian: combattente illegale — one who engages in combat without meeting the Geneva Convention
  • Portuguese: combatente ilegal — one who engages in combat without meeting the Geneva Convention
  • Russian: незако́нный бое́ц (nezakónnyj bojéc) — one who engages in combat without meeting the Geneva Convention
  • Spanish: combatiente ilegal — one who engages in combat without meeting the Geneva Convention
  • Swedish: olaglig stridande — one who engages in combat without meeting the Geneva Convention