belligerent

adjective

1. warlike; given to waging war.
2. of warlike character; aggressively hostile; bellicose: a belligerent tone.
3. waging war; engaged in war: a peace treaty between belligerent powers.
4. pertaining to war or to those engaged in war: belligerent rights.

noun

5. a state or nation at war.
6. a member of the military forces of such a state.

adjective

1. marked by readiness to fight or argue; aggressivea belligerent tone
2. relating to or engaged in a legally recognized war or warfare

noun

3. a person or country engaged in fighting or war

adj.

1570s, from Latin belligerantem (nominative belligerans), past participle of belligerare “to wage war,” from bellum “war” (see bellicose) + gerere “to bear, to carry” (see gest). The noun meaning “party or nation at war” is from 1811. Related: Belligerently.