V2 Vocabulary Building Dictionary
Many people confuse the word belligerent to mean excessively drunk, but this is only because people who are excessively drunk may often become belligerent--wanting to fight. The state of being belligerent (wanting to fight) is called belligerence.
What's a belligerent drunk?
Some people, particularly younger folks, are adamant that the term belligerent means “drunk.” It's a misanalysis of the word, perhaps associating being intoxicated with being ready to fight.
Can you call someone belligerent?
If someone is belligerent, they're eager to fight. ... Belligerent comes from the Latin word bellum, for "war." You can use it to talk about actual wars — the nations taking part in a war are called belligerents — but usually belligerent describes a psychological disposition.
