the state of being at war or of being recognized as a belligerent
2.
belligerence
belligerency in American English
(bəˈlɪdʒərənsi)
noun
1.
the position or status as a belligerent; state of being actually engaged in war
2.
belligerence
Word origin
[1860–65; belliger(ent) + -ency]This word is first recorded in the period 1860–65. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Paleolithic, monism, pop-up, prep, raider