noun
disabled soldier; crippled soldier
Refers to a soldier who has become disabled due to war or military service. The term is somewhat dated and may carry a blunt or insensitive nuance in modern contexts.
戦後、多くの廃兵が社会復帰に苦労した。
After the war, many disabled soldiers struggled to reintegrate into society.
彼は戦場で負傷し、廃兵として故郷に戻った。
He was wounded on the battlefield and returned home as a disabled soldier.
Compound of 廃 (hai, 'disuse' or 'disability') and 兵 (hei, 'soldier'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term likely emerged in the context of post-war Japan.