Reference meaning

noncombatant

noun·Reference

Last updated

a member of the armed forces who does not participate in combat (e.g. a chaplain or surgeon)

Other meanings

2. adjective

used of civilians in time of war

3. adjective

member of armed forces whose duties do not include fighting as e.g. a chaplain or surgeon

Source and scope

This definition is reproduced from Princeton WordNet 3.0, sense 10360578-n, under the WordNet 3.0 License. It has not yet received VocabularyBase editorial review. Read the source and license details.