Which word below best describes a person who is fond of fighting or warlike in character?

Introduction / Context:
This question asks for the best term to describe a person who is fond of fighting or warlike in character. Several English adjectives convey related ideas of aggression and readiness to fight. However, one of them is especially used as a noun and adjective for people committed to fighting, often for a cause. Recognising subtle differences between these near synonyms is important in precise vocabulary work.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The stem points to someone who is fond of fighting or has a fighting spirit.
• Option A militant can be both a noun and an adjective describing a person who is combative or engaged in struggle.
• Option B aggressive describes a general tendency to attack, assert, or push forward.
• Option C bellicose means warlike in a disposition, eager to fight.
• Option D belligerent refers to being hostile or engaged in conflict.

Concept / Approach:
All four words share the semantic field of hostility and readiness to fight, but militant is frequently used as a label for a person or group actively involved in a struggle or campaign, especially political or ideological. The stem asks for one who is fond of fighting, which can be interpreted as a person with a militant temperament or role. Although bellicose and belligerent are strong adjectives, they are less commonly used as direct labels for a type of person in exam style one word substitution questions. Aggressive is broader and can apply to sales tactics or sports, not necessarily a love of fighting itself. Militant, on the other hand, often appears exactly in the pattern militant person or religious militants, making it the most fitting choice here.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that the stem asks for a word describing a person who is fond of fighting.Step 2: Recall that militant can name a person involved in active struggle, and as an adjective it directly signals combative or fighting behaviour for a cause.Step 3: Consider aggressive, which can describe many forceful behaviours that are not literally fighting, such as aggressive marketing or aggressive driving.Step 4: Consider bellicose and belligerent, which are adjectives that describe a warlike or hostile attitude, but are less standard as one word substitutes for the person label in exam patterns.Step 5: Conclude that militant is the best match because it directly conveys a sense of a person who has a fighting nature and is often used as a noun meaning a fighter for some cause.

Verification / Alternative check:
In many news articles, you will read phrases such as political militants, militant groups, or militant activists. These express not just a general aggressiveness but an active involvement in struggle, often including physical confrontation. While you may also see belligerent tone or bellicose speech, these words less often appear as the primary label for a person in exam style lists of one who is fond of fighting. Dictionary entries confirm that militant as a noun denotes a person engaged in warfare or aggressive advocacy of a cause.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Aggressive is too broad and can include energetic or pushy behaviour in non fighting contexts, so it is not as precise for a person defined by fighting. Bellicose and belligerent are close in meaning to warlike but are primarily adjectives describing attitude, not commonly used as standard one word substitutes to label a person in general English questions. Given the exam style, militant stands out as the conventional answer.

Common Pitfalls:
Because all options share similar connotations, candidates may feel that any of them could work. A useful strategy is to think about how often you see each word directly attached to person as a label. Phrases like He is a militant are more natural than He is a bellicose, which sounds incorrect. Paying attention to these collocation patterns will help you choose the most appropriate word in similar questions.

Final Answer:
The word that best describes a person who is fond of fighting is Militant, so option A is correct.