Belligerent Belligerent

Belligerent - Definition and Overview

Related Words: Aggressive, Antagonist, Ardent, Bitter, Blade, Bloody, Bravo, Bully, Caustic, Chauvinist

A belligerent in warfare describes one of the contracting parties in the conflict; that is, one of the powers at war in contrast to neutral countries and non-belligerents.

In the written treaties of the laws of war, no distinction is made between neutral countries or neutral powers and non-belligerents for the purpose of the application of those laws and the responsibilities of belligerents toward neutral countries and vice versa.

A power not wanting to engage in a war as a contracting power (i.e., a belligerent) but sympathizing with one of the belligerents may declare itself a non-belligerent as more appropriate than neutral; however if such a nation aids a belligerent in a way proscribed to neutral nations, they risk becoming belligerents themselves.

Notwithstanding, a distinction between neutral and non-belligerent has often been drawn by nations not directly involved in a conflict to describe their positions.

Example Usage of Belligerent

johnholdun: Gettin some IV, watching a Belligerent drunk dude get strapped down.
Trevkor: So Twitter, let's play a game. I'm headstrong, Belligerent, and want to kill anyone who disagrees with me. Who am I?
tmtek: A very loud an Belligerent clip from last nights show at Dekcuf http://bit.ly/1Dp9K5
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