Fighter

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈfaɪ.tə(ɹ)/

Definitions

1. An individual engaged in military battles or armed conflicts ; a competitor in sports involving physical combat such as boxing or martial arts ; a person who actively endures hardship or fights against challenges
2. Someone who takes part in warfare as a soldier or combatant ; an athlete who participates in fighting competitions ; one who persistently confronts obstacles or adversity
3. A participant in armed conflicts or wars ; a contestant in fighting sports or matches ; an individual who vigorously opposes or copes with tough situations

Etymology: Fighter is a plain, transparent formation: the verb "fight" with the agent suffix "-er", meaning one who fights. The suffix traces back through Old English "-ere" to an ancient Germanic root, and the earlier Old English form "feohtere" was already in use for a combatant. Its Middle English descendant, "fightere" or "feghtere", carried the same sense of someone who takes part in a struggle. The verb behind it, Old English "feohtan", is an old Germanic word with deep roots, but the noun itself has never strayed far from its basic meaning. A fighter is still, at heart, someone who fights, whether on a battlefield, in a boxing ring, or in the everyday struggle against hardship.

Synonyms: warrior, combatant, brawler, boxer, champion

Antonyms: pacifist, coward, quitter, defeatist, loser