COMBATANT
combatant
(adjective) engaging in or ready for combat
combatant, battler, belligerent, fighter, scrapper
(noun) someone who fights (or is fighting)
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
combatant (plural combatants)
A person engaged in combat, often armed.
Synonyms
• battler
• fighter
Adjective
combatant (comparative more combatant, superlative most combatant)
Contending; disposed to contend.
Involving combat.
Source: Wiktionary
Com"bat*ant, a. Etym: [F. combattant, p. pr.]
Definition: Contending; disposed to contend. B. Jonson.
Com"bat*ant, n. Etym: [F. combattant.]
Definition: One who engages in combat. "The mighty combatants." Milton.
A controversy which long survived the original combatants. Macaulay
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition