Warrior A warrior is a person skilled in combat or warfare , especially within the context of a tribal or clan - based society that recognizes a separate warrior class or caste . Warrior classes in tribal culture . In tribal societies engaging in endemic warfare , warriors often form a caste or class of their own . In feudalism , the vassals essentially form a military or warrior class , even if in actual warfare , peasants may be called to fight as well . In some societies , warfare may be so central that the entire people ( or , more often , large parts of the male population ) may be considered warriors , for example in the Iron Age Germanic tribes and Indian clans like the Rajputs . Women as warriors . While the warrior class in tribal societies is typically all - male , there are some exceptions on record where women ( typically unmarried , young women ) formed part of the warrior class . A purported group of fighting women is the legendary Amazons , recorded in Classical Greek mythology . Many Women not only fought on the field but led entire hosts of men within Pictish , Briton , and Irish Tribes in Pre christian culture Military castes in feudal society . The military caste in a feudal society is evolved from — but not identical with — the warrior class in a tribal society . Many pre - modern states had castes , estates or social groups dedicated to warfare . This includes the Khalsa and Kshatriya castes in ancient and modern India , the samurai class in feudal Japan , and noble knight s in feudal Europe . Behavioral codes . In many societies in which a specialized warrior class exists , specific codes of conduct ( ethical code or honour code ) are established to ensure that the warrior class is not corrupted or otherwise dangerous to the rest of society . Common features include valuing honour in the forms of faith , loyalty and courage . Examples include the following : Warriors ' honour is dependent on following the code . Common virtue s in warrior codes are mercy , courage , and loyalty . Modern " warriors " . Modern warfare . With the end of the Middle Ages and the professional standing armies of Early Modern warfare , the concept of a " warrior class " or " military caste " became an anachronism . The term " warrior " is still sometimes used , anachronistically , to refer to professional soldier s or mercenaries . Due to the heroic connotations of the term " warrior " , this metaphor is especially popular in publications advocating or recruiting for a country ' s military . Figurative use . In addition to the literal meaning , now mostly historical , the term has acquired a figurative sense referring to " a person who shows or has shown great vigor , courage , or aggressiveness , as in politics or athletics . " The " warrior " metaphor in sports is particularly popular in combat sport , as evident from brand names such as Warrior - 1 MMA , Cage Warriors , Supreme Warrior Championship , etc . The company Warrior Roots combines the martial arts metaphor with the connotation of antiquity and tribal heritage by offering to test clients ' " ancient ancestral roots " as well as their " genetic tendencies for various athletic characteristics " . Spiritual warrior . A spiritual warrior is a person who battles with the " universal enemy , " self - ignorance ( avidya ) , the ultimate source of suffering according to dharmic philosophies . The term is applied in religious and metaphysical writing . There are self - described spiritual warriors . The spiritual warrior can be described as an archetype character on a journey for self discovery .