noncombatant

non·com·bat·ant

(nŏn′kəm-băt′nt, -kŏm′bə-tnt)

1. A member of the armed forces, such as a chaplain or surgeon, whose duties lie outside combat.

2. A civilian in wartime, especially one in a war zone.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

noncombatant

(ˌnɒnˈkɒmbətənt)

1. (Military) a civilian in time of war

2. (Military) a member of the armed forces whose duties do not include fighting, such as a chaplain or surgeon

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

non•com•bat•ant

(ˌnɒn kəmˈbæt nt, nɒnˈkɒm bə tnt)

n.

1. a member of a military force who is not a fighter, as a surgeon or chaplain.

2. a person who is not a combatant; a civilian in wartime.

adj.

3. not constituting, designed for, or engaged in combat.

[1805–15]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun 1. noncombatant - a member of the armed forces who does not participate in combat (e.g. a chaplain or surgeon)

military man, serviceman, man, military personnel - someone who serves in the armed forces; a member of a military force; "two men stood sentry duty"

Adj. 1. noncombatant - used of civilians in time of war

civilian - associated with civil life or performed by persons who are not active members of the military; "civilian clothing"; "civilian life"

2. noncombatant - member of armed forces whose duties do not include fighting as e.g. a chaplain or surgeon

military - associated with or performed by members of the armed services as contrasted with civilians; "military police"

Translations

noncombatant

[ˈnɒnˈkɒmbət/ənt] n → militare m non combattente

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

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References in classic literature ?

"There may be fighting for one of these sections," he said, "and troops cannot be embarrassed by civilian noncombatants during action."

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