n.
Pronunciation: -r ə nt
Function: adjective
Etymology: modification of Latin belligerant-, belligerans, present participle of belligerare to wage war, from belliger waging war, from bellum + gerere to wage
Date: 1577
1 : waging war specifically : belonging to or recognized as a state at war and protected by and subject to the laws of war
2 : inclined to or exhibiting assertiveness, hostility, or combativeness
– belligerent noun
– bel · lig · er · ent · ly adverb
synonyms BELLIGERENT , BELLICOSE , PUGNACIOUS , QUARRELSOME , CONTENTIOUS mean having an aggressive or fighting attitude. BELLIGERENT often implies being actually at war or engaged in hostilities < belligerent nations>. BELLICOSE suggests a disposition to fight <a drunk in a bellicose mood>. PUGNACIOUS suggests a disposition that takes pleasure in personal combat <a pugnacious gangster>. QUARRELSOME stresses an ill-natured readiness to fight without good cause <the heat made us all quarrelsome >. CONTENTIOUS implies perverse and irritating fondness for arguing and quarreling <wearied by his contentious disposition>.