fighter
gb/fˈaɪtɚ/ us/fˈaɪtɚ/
B1
English
~ 8300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
person who refuses to give up
Someone who does not stop trying, even when life is very hard or they are very sick.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is (a real) fighter
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'fighter' always means a soldier or boxer. In everyday speech, saying 'She is a fighter' often describes a strong, determined personality, especially when facing illness or problems, not physical fighting.
Synonyms
battler (Often informal; stresses long, hard struggle, especially against problems in life.)
Antonyms
quitter (Someone who gives up easily or stops trying when things are difficult.)
Collocations
a real fighter
|born fighter
|natural fighter
|tough fighter
|she's a fighter
|true fighter
Themes
character
|emotions
|health
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Even during chemotherapy, she stayed positive and showed everyone what a fighter she was.
- He's a fighter by nature and never lets setbacks stop him for long.
- The coach called her a real fighter for coming back after such a serious injury.
- Growing up poor made him a fighter who refuses to accept defeat.
- Doctors said his chances were low, but that little boy turned out to be a fighter.
Learner examples
- My grandmother is a fighter and does not give up.
- After the accident, he became a fighter and learned to walk again.
- She is a fighter and keeps working hard, even when she is tired.
- People say he is a real fighter because he never stops trying.
- The team lost, but they played like fighters until the end.
unknown
B2
entity
2
combat sports competitor
A sports person who fights in a ring or cage, like a boxer or mixed martial arts (MMA) athlete.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a [weight class] fighter
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes call all combat athletes 'boxers'. Use 'fighter' as the more general word for athletes in boxing, MMA, kickboxing, and similar sports.
Synonyms
boxer (More specific; only for athletes in the sport of boxing, while 'fighter' also includes MMA and other combat sports.)
Antonyms
spectator (In the sports context, a person who only watches the fight instead of taking part in it.)
Collocations
professional fighter
|MMA fighter
|heavyweight fighter
|title fighter
|champion fighter
|up-and-coming fighter
Themes
sports
|entertainment
Examples
- The young fighter won his first professional match by knockout in the second round.
- She became the first female fighter from her country to win a major MMA title.
- Both fighters were exhausted by the final round but refused to back down.
- The promoter said this could be the biggest fight of the year, featuring two undefeated fighters.
- He trains with world-class fighters at a gym in Las Vegas.
Learner examples
- The fighter walked into the ring.
- Two fighters faced each other before the match.
- He wants to be a professional fighter when he is older.
- The fighter hit his opponent with a strong left hand.
- Many fans waited outside to see the fighters.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
3
military aircraft for air combat
A fast military plane that is built to fight and shoot down other planes.
Usage pattern:
a fighter [jet/plane/aircraft]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'fighter' with 'bomber' or 'jet'. 'Fighter' describes the plane's job (to fight other planes). 'Jet' describes how it is powered. 'Fighter jet' combines both ideas.
Synonyms
warplane (General term for any military plane; does not specifically mean air-to-air combat the way 'fighter' does.)
Antonyms
bomber (A military aircraft designed mainly to drop bombs on ground or sea targets, not to fight other aircraft directly.)
Collocations
fighter jet
|fighter aircraft
|fighter plane
|stealth fighter
|fighter pilot
|fighter squadron
Themes
military
|technology
|transport
|transportation
Examples
- The air force deployed several fighter jets to patrol the border.
- A squadron of modern fighters escorted the transport aircraft through the conflict zone.
- The new stealth fighter is designed to avoid detection by enemy radar.
- He trained for years before qualifying as a fighter pilot.
- Old fighter planes from the museum were restored and flown during the air show.
Learner examples
- A fighter jet flew over the city.
- The country bought new fighter planes.
- The pilot flies a fighter for the air force.
- Two fighters circled each other in the sky.
- The museum has an old fighter aircraft on display.
Noun
B2
entity
4
member of an armed group
Someone who uses weapons in a war or conflict, often as part of a rebel or guerrilla group, not in a regular army.
Usage pattern:
[adjective] fighters
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use only 'soldiers' in news or political contexts. In many reports, 'fighters' is used when people are not part of a regular army, for example rebels or militia members.
Synonyms
combatant (More formal and legal; can refer to any person who is fighting in a war, not just irregular or rebel forces.)
Antonyms
civilian (A person who is not a member of any armed group and does not take part in fighting.)
Collocations
rebel fighters
|foreign fighters
|guerrilla fighters
|Islamist fighters
|armed fighters
|frontline fighters
Themes
military
|politics
|law
Examples
- Rebel fighters captured several towns in the north of the country.
- Foreign fighters have joined the conflict, making it harder to reach a peace agreement.
- The government promised to disarm all fighters as part of the peace deal.
- Villagers said the fighters moved through the area late at night.
- Humanitarian groups called on all fighters to allow safe passage for civilians.
Learner examples
- Many fighters were seen near the border.
- The peace plan asks all fighters to stop shooting.
- Some fighters left the group and went home.
- Soldiers and fighters agreed to talk about peace.
- Civilians were afraid of the fighters in the hills.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fighter
IPA
GB/fˈaɪtɚ/
US/fˈaɪtɚ/
Syllables & stress
fight - er (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (fight)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: fighter
- Plural: fighters
Word family
Expressions
a lover, not a fighter
1/ə lˈʌvɚ | nˈɑt ə fˈaɪtɚ/
idiom
informal
person who avoids fighting
Used to say that someone prefers love, kindness, or peace and does not like to fight or argue.
Examples
- "I'm a lover, not a fighter," he joked when his friends invited him to boxing training.
- She describes herself as a lover, not a fighter, and always looks for a peaceful solution.
- He may be strong, but he's a lover, not a fighter.
born fighter
1/bˈɔɹn fˈaɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
naturally determined person
Someone who seems to be naturally very strong and determined, and does not give up easily.
Examples
- After seeing how quickly he recovered, the doctor called him a born fighter.
- She is a born fighter and will do whatever it takes to protect her family.
- Commentators praised the team’s captain as a born fighter who leads by example.
fighter jet
1/fˈaɪtɚ d͡ʒˈɛt/
fixed phrase
technical
jet-powered fighter aircraft
A fast military plane with jet engines that is built to fight and shoot down other planes.
Examples
- Several fighter jets took off from the base after the alarm sounded.
- The new fighter jet can fly at more than twice the speed of sound.
- Residents complained about the noise made by low-flying fighter jets.
fighter plane
1/fˈaɪtɚ plˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
fighter-type military plane
A military plane that is made to fight and shoot down other planes, especially in older or historical times.
Examples
- Old fighter planes from World War II were displayed at the air show.
- He built a model of a famous British fighter plane.
- Fighter planes circled overhead as the battle began.
freedom fighter
1/fɹˈidəm fˈaɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
armed person fighting for freedom
Someone who uses weapons and fighting to try to make their country or people free from another government or army.
Examples
- The group describes its members as freedom fighters, but some countries call them terrorists.
- Many statues in the capital honor freedom fighters who died in the war of independence.
- She grew up hearing stories about her grandfather, a well-known freedom fighter.
street fighter
1/stɹˈit fˈaɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
person who fights in the street
Someone who fights in the street or in informal, often illegal fights, not in a normal sports match.
Examples
- He started as a street fighter before joining a professional gym.
- The movie tells the story of a young street fighter trying to escape a life of violence.
- As a former street fighter, he had learned to defend himself with anything he could find.