enemy combatant

== English == === Noun === enemy combatant (plural enemy combatants) Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see enemy,‎ combatant. (US, military) Any person in an armed conflict who may be properly detained under the laws and customs of war. ==== Usage notes ==== The term 'enemy combatant' has historically referred to any member of the armed forces of a state with which another state is at war. In the 'war on terrorism', however, combatants may come from multiple nations, wear no uniforms, and use unconventional weapons; because they are not defined by simple, readily apparent criteria such as citizenship or military uniforms, the power of a state to name people 'enemy combatants' is, according to some legal scholars, extraordinarily broad. ==== Quotations ==== For quotations using this term, see Citations:enemy combatant. ==== Synonyms ==== EC ==== Translations ==== === See also === Unlawful combatant on Wikipedia.Wikipedia === References ===