We must distinguish between what is being thought and what is being said. Within the context of using this phrase lies the real intent, i.e., how much ripple exists in the output. How this combining takes place and the bandwidth of the individual filters dictates the amount of ripple. The type of filter used has nothing to do with it. Combining is done by electronically summing together all of the filter outputs.
All equalizers combine their filter outputs.
It is wrong to say an equalizer is non-combining. The only examples of non-combining filters are real time analyzers and crossovers. An example of the misuse of this term concerns comparison between constant-Q and conventional graphic equalizers. Both designs sum their outputs together. The difference lies in the smoothness of the combined curves.