fighter

noun

fight·​er ˈfī-tər 

: one that fights: such as

a(1)

: warrior, soldier

(2)

: a pugnacious or game individual

(3)

: boxer entry 1 sense 1

b

: an airplane of high speed and maneuverability with armament designed to destroy enemy aircraft

Synonyms

• dogface
• legionary
• legionnaire
• man-at-arms
• regular
• serviceman
• soldier
• trooper
• warrior

Examples of fighter in a Sentence

the debate whether more fighters are needed to bring order to that war-torn country

a program at the community center for training local youths as fighters

Recent Examples on the Web

Elvis Rodriguez Results The co-main event saw the two 140-pound fighters clash in a competitive scrap. —Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025

Now, residents of Gaza and the West Bank are at the mercy of Israeli military operations in which fighters and civilians are being slain at staggering rates. —Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025

The show will feature many performers, including the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, which fly the F-16 fighter, and the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 Rhino demo team. —Sacbee.com, 5 Apr. 2025

Navy attack planes from the Truman and Air Force fighter jets, flying from bases in the Middle East, have conducted strikes against Houthi targets each day since, U.S. and Yemeni officials said. —Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing fighter

• fighter-bomber
• freedom fighter
• street fighter

Rhymes for fighter

• biter
• brighter
• lighter
• miter
• niter
• reiter
• righter
• slighter
• tighter
• titer
• titre
• whiter

Kids Definition

fighter

noun

fight·​er ˈfīt-ər 

: one that fights:

a

: warrior, soldier

b

: boxer entry 1

c

: a fast airplane armed with weapons for destroying enemy aircraft