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combat
/ˈkɒm.bæt/
fight or struggle against
The soldiers trained to combat the enemy forces.
The soldiers practiced fighting against opposing military units.
formal
to fight or struggle against someone or something
The government is taking measures to combat corruption.
The government is actively working to reduce or eliminate corruption.
She learned martial arts to combat bullying in school.
She studied self-defense techniques to address and stop bullying.
Often used in formal or serious contexts, such as law enforcement, health, or social issues.
formal
a fight or struggle, especially during a war
The combat lasted for three days before the enemy retreated.
The battle continued for three days until the opposing forces withdrew.
Refers specifically to active fighting in a military context.
Collocations
combat zonean area where active fighting is taking placecombat trainingmilitary exercises designed to prepare soldiers for battlecombat sportssports that involve direct competition between opponents, such as boxing or MMA
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'comma'
'Combat' and 'comma' sound similar but have entirely different meanings. Remember: 'combat' relates to fighting (think 'battle'), while 'comma' is a punctuation mark.
Gold Rule
Use 'combat' for active struggle
Prefer 'combat' when describing an active effort to overcome something challenging, especially in formal or serious contexts. For general resistance, 'fight' or 'struggle' may be more appropriate.
Word Origin
From Old French 'combat' (battle), from Latin 'combattere' (to fight together), from 'com-' (together) + 'battere' (to beat, strike). The word entered English in the 16th century, initially in a military context.
Usage Notes
While 'combat' often implies physical conflict, it can also be used metaphorically for any intense struggle (e.g., 'combat climate change'). In modern usage, it is frequently paired with terms like 'mental health' or 'disease' to describe efforts to overcome non-physical challenges.
Word Breakdown
com-
together, with
prefixbat-
to beat, strike
root-t
noun or verb suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary