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Added 8 October 2026

belligerent

/bəˈlɪdʒ.ə.ɹənt/ adjective

In Latin: bellicus Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about belligerent at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Engaged in warfare, warring.
Eager to go to war, warlike.
Of or pertaining to war.

noun

A state or other armed participant in warfare
The UN sent a treaty proposal to the belligerents.

Origin

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”)).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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