noncombatants
Those not fighting
Noncombatants are people who don't participate in fighting during armed conflict.
The term covers civilians and also military personnel not engaged in combat—medics, chaplains, prisoners of war.
International law affords noncombatants special protections: The bombing killed dozens of noncombatants.
The singular noncombatant works as noun or adjective: noncombatant casualties, a noncombatant role.
Non-military population
- bystandersPeople present but uninvolved
- refugeesPeople seeking safety elsewhere
- childrenYoung human beings
- womenFemale adults collectively
elderly · displaced persons · evacuees · aid workers · medical personnel · journalists · clergy · diplomats
Those killed or wounded
- victimsThose who suffer harm
- survivorsThose still alive after
- hostagesCaptives held for demands
- collateralSecurity for debt
displacement · exodus · humanitarian crisis · war crimes · atrocities · occupation · siege · bombardment
Protected sacred space
- refugePlace of safety
- asylumShelter from persecution
- shelterProtected place or structure
- safe zoneProtected area from threats
humanitarian corridor · evacuation · convoy · escort · immunity · Geneva Conventions · international law · safeguarding
Without means to resist
- unarmedHaving no weapons
- helplessUnable to act independently
- exposedOut in open
- unprotectedWithout safeguard or shield
at-risk · endangered · trapped · precarious · fragile · threatened · collateral damage · human shields
civilians
Non-military population
- bystandersPeople present but uninvolved
- refugeesPeople seeking safety elsewhere
- childrenYoung human beings
women · elderly · displaced persons · evacuees · aid workers · medical personnel · journalists · clergy · diplomats · asylum seekers
casualties
Those killed or wounded
collateral · displacement · exodus · humanitarian crisis · war crimes · atrocities · occupation · siege · bombardment · shelling
sanctuary
Protected sacred space
safe zone · humanitarian corridor · evacuation · convoy · escort · immunity · Geneva Conventions · international law · safeguarding · shielding
defenseless
Without means to resist
unprotected · at-risk · endangered · trapped · precarious · fragile · threatened · collateral damage · human shields · caught in crossfire
- War Ethicsjust war, rules of war, rules of engagement, Geneva Conventions, Geneva Convention
- Nuclearnuclear reactor, atomic bomb, nuclear energy, atomic bombs, uranium
- war casualtiescasualties, war casualties, war dead, killed in action, fallen soldiers
- war medicinefield hospital, field hospitals, field surgery, medic, military surgeons
noncombatantscombatants
Those engaged in warfare
soldiers · fighters · warriors · military personnel · troops