enemy combatant

English

Wikisource

Noun

enemy combatant (plural enemy combatants)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see enemy,‎ combatant.
2. (US, military) Any person in an armed conflict who may be properly detained under the laws and customs of war.

Usage notes

The term 'enemy combatant' has historically referred to any member of the armed forces of a state with which another state is at war. In the 'war on terrorism', however, combatants may come from multiple nations, wear no uniforms, and use unconventional weapons; because they are not defined by simple, readily apparent criteria such as citizenship or military uniforms, the power of a state to name people 'enemy combatants' is, according to some legal scholars, extraordinarily broad.

Quotations

For quotations using this term, see Citations:enemy combatant.

Synonyms

• EC

Translations

anyone who may be properly detained under laws of war

• Finnish: vihollistaistelija

See also

• Unlawful combatant on Wikipedia.Wikipedia