Word

combat

noun C1

UK /ˈkɒmˌbæt/

US /ˈkɑmˌbæt/

Meanings

noun

fighting between opposing sides, especially during a war

verb

to fight against someone or something; to try hard to stop or reduce a problem

Definition

Combat is a fight between opposing sides, especially in war.

Combat refers to active fighting between armed forces, groups, or individuals. It is often used in military contexts to describe direct engagement with an enemy. It can also be used more broadly for any intense physical struggle, though it still suggests real confrontation rather than a debate.

Examples

The documentary showed how quickly combat can erupt when negotiations collapse.
He was trained for urban combat, but he still found the noise and confusion overwhelming.
She helped combat misinformation by publishing clear sources and correcting errors promptly.
They developed new tactics to combat the spread of the wildfire as the wind changed direction.

Common mistake

Learners often confuse the noun and verb stress, pronouncing the noun like the verb (or vice versa) instead of stressing the first syllable for the noun and the second for the verb.