belligerency

noun

bel·​lig·​er·​en·​cy bə-ˈli-jə-rən(t)-sē 

-ˈlij-

1

: the state of being at war or in conflict

specifically : the status of a legally recognized belligerent state or nation

2

: belligerence

Synonyms

• aggression
• aggressiveness
• assaultiveness
• bellicosity
• belligerence
• combativeness
• contentiousness
• defiance
• disputatiousness
• feistiness
• fight
• militance
• militancy
• militantness
• pugnacity
• quarrelsomeness
• scrappiness
• truculence

Examples of belligerency in a Sentence

an inveterate belligerency that needs to be addressed by classes in anger management

Recent Examples on the Web

Congress has given away its power to declare war to the president, handing over the ability to take the nation from a state of peace to a state of belligerency or co-belligerency. —Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 7 July 2024

Credibility requires consistency, not belligerency. —Keren Yarhi-Milo, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2017

Furthermore, pursuant to Additional Protocol I, Article 47(1), mercenaries do not qualify as combatants, and as such, cannot benefit from the privilege of belligerency. —Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 12 June 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

belligerency

noun

bel·​lig·​er·​en·​cy bə-ˈlij-(ə-)rən-sē 

1

: the state of being at war

2

: belligerence

Legal Definition

belligerency

noun

bel·​lig·​er·​en·​cy bə-ˈli-jə-rən-sē 

: the state of being at war or in conflict

specifically : the status whereby a recognized military force is granted the protection of the international laws of war