Belligerent

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /bəˈlɪdÊ’.(É™).ɹənt/
• US IPA: /bəˈlɪdÊ’.É™.ɹənt/

Origin

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

Full definition of belligerent

Adjective

1. Engaged in warfare, warring.
2. Eager to go to war, warlike.
3. Of or pertaining to war.
4. (By extension) Aggressively hostile, eager to fight.
5. Acting violently towards others.

Synonyms

• (eager to fight) aggressive, antagonistic, bellicose, combative, contentious, pugnacious, quarrelsome, truculent

Derived terms

• belligerently
• cobelligerent

Related terms

• bellicose
• belligerence
• belligerency

Noun

1. A state or other armed participant in warfareThe U.N. sent a treaty proposal to the belligerents.