belligerent

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun someone who fights (or is fighting)
  2. adjective characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight
  3. adjective engaged in war

Etymology

From Latin belligerans (“waging war”), present active participle of belligerō (“to wage war”), from belliger (“waging war, warlike”), from bellum (“war”) + -ger (from gerō (“to lead, wage, carry on”)).

In classic literature

Synonyms

combatant, battler, fighter, scrapper

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