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

BWS9: Is bin Laden a terrorist or "unprivileged Belligerent"? Coming soon. www.johntfloyd.com
bit_shifter_: • BTW: badge #4461, Precinct 18: you are a Belligerent fuck. "Wanted to report the theft just in case." "In case what?" & downhill we went.
Mandarinc4: Besides choppin off part of my thumb and getting cussed out by a Belligerent drunk, yeah work still sucked.
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