combat

1.nounC2

Definition

active fighting between armed forces during a war, where soldiers or military units try to defeat each other by using weapons or direct force.

Example

The young soldiers faced their first combat at dawn near the river.

faced combat — collocation pattern

After months of intense combat, the troops finally secured the area.

intense combat — adjective collocation

Common collocations

combat zone
combat mission
combat training
combat experience
in combat
into combat
intense combat
hand-to-hand combat

Synonyms

battle
refers to a single, named military fight (e.g. the Battle of Normandy); more specific than combat
warfare
covers the whole activity, strategy, and methods of war; broader than combat
engagement
a formal term for a short fight between military units; more technical
action
used in military contexts for active fighting; e.g. 'killed in action'

Grammar Patterns

combat + noun (modifier, e.g. combat zone)

in combat

into combat

Usage Note

In this sense, combat is usually uncountable when describing the general activity of fighting in a war. When used as a countable noun, it refers to a specific fight or engagement (e.g. 'a bitter combat between two battalions').

Common Mistakes

He was wounded in a combat.

He was wounded in combat.

When referring to fighting in general, no article is needed.

2.nounB2

Definition

a situation in which two people, groups, or opposing forces struggle against each other, either physically or through arguments, competition, or clashing interests.

Example

The two companies are locked in legal combat over the patent rights.

locked in combat — fixed expression

Political combat between the rival parties grew more intense each week.

Common collocations

legal combat
political combat
verbal combat
fierce combat
locked in combat
combat between
combat over

Synonyms

conflict
more common than combat for non-military disagreements; can be internal or external
struggle
emphasises difficulty and effort against opposition
clash
a short, intense conflict between groups or personalities
contest
a competition where each side tries to win; less aggressive than combat

Antonyms

peace
a state of calm without conflict
harmony
agreement and cooperation between parties

Grammar Patterns

combat + between (two sides)

combat + over (an issue)

combat + among (a group)

Usage Note

Unlike sense 1, this sense is always countable and is often used figuratively for arguments, disputes, or competitions. It has a formal or dramatic tone — for everyday disagreements, 'argument', 'dispute', or 'fight' are more natural.

Common Mistakes

My brother and I had a combat about the TV remote.

My brother and I had an argument about the TV remote.

'Combat' sounds too dramatic for casual personal disputes.

1.verbtransitiveC2

Definition

to take strong action to prevent, reduce, or stop something bad from growing or causing harm — such as a disease, crime, social problem, or other unwanted condition.

Example

The government launched a new plan to combat rising crime in the city.

to combat + [problem] — infinitive of purpose

Doctors are testing a drug that combats the early stages of the disease.

Common collocations

combat crime
combat disease
combat poverty
combat terrorism
combat climate change
combat the effects of
combat the spread of
combat inequality

Synonyms

fight
more common and less formal; used in both physical and non-physical contexts
tackle
suggests dealing with a problem directly and energetically; common in British English
oppose
to disagree with and try to prevent something, often through arguments or policy
counter
to act against something in order to reduce its effect

Antonyms

encourage
to help something grow or increase
promote
to support the development of something

Grammar Patterns

combat + noun phrase (a problem, disease, crime)

to combat + noun phrase (infinitive of purpose)

combat + the effects/impact/spread of + noun phrase

Usage Note

This sense always takes a direct object — typically an abstract noun referring to something harmful (crime, disease, poverty, inequality, climate change). Never used intransitively. 'Fight' and 'tackle' can replace 'combat' in most contexts with a less formal tone.

Common Mistakes

The government is combating with crime.

The government is combating crime.

'Combat' is transitive and does not need 'with' or 'against'.

We need to combat the problem.' (vague)

We need to combat the spread of misinformation.

This sense works best with a specific harmful target.

2.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2

Definition

to use physical force or effort to fight against an enemy, a natural force, or any opponent in a direct confrontation.

Example

The firefighters combated the forest fire for three days before rain fell.

combat + a natural force (fire)

Rescue workers combated flood waters to reach the stranded families on the hill.

Common collocations

combat a fire
combat flood waters
combat an enemy
combat a crowd

Synonyms

fight
the everyday word for physical confrontation; much more common than combat
battle
suggests a long, difficult struggle against an opponent or situation
engage
formal term for beginning a fight with an enemy

Antonyms

surrender
to stop fighting and admit defeat
retreat
to move away from the enemy

Grammar Patterns

combat + noun phrase (enemy, fire, flood)

combat + against + noun phrase

Usage Note

In everyday English, 'fight' is much more common than 'combat' for physical fighting. 'Combat' sounds more formal or official, and is often used in news reports or military contexts. Frequently transitive, but can be used intransitively (e.g. 'The troops combated fiercely throughout the night').

Common Mistakes

The boys combated in the schoolyard.

The boys fought in the schoolyard.

'Combat' is too formal for casual physical fights.

1.adjectiveB2

Definition

relating to or associated with the activity of fighting during a war — used before a noun to describe things connected to military combat.

Example

The museum displayed combat uniforms and weapons from both world wars.

combat + uniform — attributive adjective pattern

The veteran struggled with combat memories long after the war ended.

Common collocations

combat uniform
combat boots
combat zone
combat unit
combat experience
combat conditions
combat training
combat mission
combat medic

Synonyms

military
broader term covering all armed forces activity, not just fighting
war
used as a modifier too (war crime, war hero); similar in meaning but broader
fighting
less formal; used before nouns like 'fighting force', 'fighting spirit'

Grammar Patterns

combat + noun (used before a noun only)

Usage Note

Used only before a noun (attributive position). Cannot be used after a linking verb ('The conditions were combat ✗'). In this sense, the noun that follows is related to the general context of war fighting — equipment, experiences, personnel, environments.

Common Mistakes

His wounds were combat.

He suffered combat wounds.

'Combat' as an adjective must come before a noun; it cannot stand alone as a complement.

2.adjectiveB2

Definition

specially built, designed, or intended to be used in active fighting during a war — describing equipment or vehicles made for battlefield use.

Example

The army ordered new combat vehicles equipped with night-vision technology.

combat vehicles — equipment designed for battle

The squadron received the latest combat aircraft for long-range missions.

Common collocations

combat vehicle
combat aircraft
combat helicopter
combat drone
combat gear
combat equipment
combat knife
combat ship

Synonyms

battle
similar attributive use, as in 'battle tank' or 'battle gear'; slightly less formal
fighting
used in 'fighting vehicle'; more descriptive than technical
military-grade
emphasises the quality and specifications needed for combat

Antonyms

civilian
designed for non-military, everyday use

Grammar Patterns

combat + noun (vehicle, aircraft, equipment)

Usage Note

This sense overlaps closely with sense 1, but emphasises purpose and design rather than general relation. A 'combat vehicle' is built specifically for fighting (armoured, armed), while 'combat experience' (sense 1) refers to the experience of fighting, not something designed for it.

Word family

combatant
nounC2
combatant
adjectiveC2
combative
adjectiveC2
combativeness
nounC2
non-combat
adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Combat (noun/1, 'FIGHTING IN WAR') refers to the active physical fighting between armed forces during a war. 'Battle' is a more specific term for a single, named military fight — the Battle of Iwo Jima is a battle, not just combat. 'Warfare' is much broader, covering the entire system, strategy, and methods of waging war, including logistics and technology. 'Conflict' is the most general term of the group — it can describe a military war, a political dispute, or a personal disagreement, and it doesn't require physical fighting. 'Engagement' is a formal, technical word for a short encounter between military units. For example: 'The soldier saw combat every day' means he was in active fighting. 'Modern warfare relies on drones' refers to how wars are fought overall. 'The conflict has lasted ten years' describes the whole situation. 'The two units had a brief engagement at dawn' describes one specific skirmish.

battle ↗warfare ↗conflict ↗engagement ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

fiercely

Phrases

hand-to-hand combat
in combat
out of combat
locked in combat

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Combat entered English in the early 1500s from French combattre, which came from the Latin word combattere — a combination of com- (together, with each other) and battuere (to beat or strike). The original meaning was simply 'to fight with someone,' and the word has stayed close to that core idea for over 500 years.

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combat

combat — noun

1. active fighting between armed forces during a war, where soldiers or military un

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. a situation in which two people, groups, or opposing forces struggle against eac

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

combat — verb

1. to take strong action to prevent, reduce, or stop something bad from growing or

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to use physical force or effort to fight against an enemy, a natural force, or a

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

combat — adjective

1. relating to or associated with the activity of fighting during a war — used befo

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. specially built, designed, or intended to be used in active fighting during a wa

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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