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belligerency

 - 4 dictionary results

bel⋅lig⋅er⋅en⋅cy

  [buh-lij-er-uhn-see]
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–noun
1. the position or status as a belligerent; state of being actually engaged in war.
2. belligerence.
Origin:
1860–65; belliger(ent) + -ency
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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bel·lig·er·en·cy   (bə-lĭj'ər-ən-sē)   
n.  

  1. The state of being at war or being engaged in a warlike conflict.

  2. Belligerence.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: bel·lig·er·en·cy
Function: noun
Pronunciation: b&-'li-j&-r&n-sE
: the state of being at war or in conflict; specifically : the status whereby a recognized military force is granted the protection of the international laws of war
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Encyclopedia

belligerency

the condition of being in fact engaged in war. A nation is deemed a belligerent even when resorting to war in order to withstand or punish an aggressor. A declaration of war is not necessary to create a state of belligerency. For example, the United States and the People's Republic of China were belligerents during the Korean conflict, though both parties avoided characterizing the hostilities as war.

Learn more about belligerency with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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