nonbelligerent

1 of 2

adjective

non·​bel·​lig·​er·​ent ˌnän-bə-ˈlij-rənt How to pronounce nonbelligerent (audio)
-ˈli-jə-
: not belligerent: such as
a
: not waging war
nonbelligerent countries
b
: not hostile or combative
a nonbelligerent attitude
nonbelligerency noun
or less commonly nonbelligerence
a nonbelligerency agreement

nonbelligerent

2 of 2

noun

: a nonbelligerent country
specifically : a country that refrains from direct participation in a war but openly favors and usually gives aid in varying degree and kind to one of the belligerents

Examples of nonbelligerent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
For not wanting to be nonbelligerent by naming the terms for belligerence. Solmaz Sharif, The New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2022 Over time, such cooperation could gradually acclimate Arab peoples to a nonbelligerent stance toward Israel. Charles Krauthammer, Twin Cities, 30 May 2017

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1795, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1810, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonbelligerent was in 1795

Dictionary Entries Near nonbelligerent

Cite this Entry

“Nonbelligerent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonbelligerent. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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