military

[ mil-i-ter-ee ]

adjective

1. of, for, or pertaining to the army or armed forces, often as distinguished from the navy:

   from civilian to military life.

2. of, for, or pertaining to war:

   military preparedness.

3. of or relating to soldiers.

   Synonyms: martial, soldierly

4. befitting, characteristic of, or noting a soldier:

   a military bearing.

5. following the life of a soldier:

   a military career.

6. performed by soldiers:

   military duty.

noun

, plural mil·i·tar·ies, mil·i·tar·y.

1. the military,
   1. the military establishment of a nation; the armed forces.
   2. military personnel, especially commissioned officers, taken collectively:

      the bar, the press, and the military.

military

/ ˈmɪlɪtərɪ; -trɪ /

adjective

1. of or relating to the armed forces (esp the army), warlike matters, etc
2. of, characteristic of, or about soldiers

noun

1. the military
   the armed services (esp the army)

Derived Forms

• ˈmilitarily, adverb

Other Words From

• mil·i·tar·i·ly [mil-i-, tair, -, uh, -lee, mil, -i-ter-, uh, -lee], adverb
• mili·tari·ness noun
• anti·mili·tary adjective
• non·mili·tary adjective
• pre·mili·tary adjective
• pro·mili·tary adjective
• pseudo·mili·tari·ly adverb
• pseudo·mili·tary adjective
• quasi-mili·tary adjective
• super·mili·tary adjective noun
• unmil·i·tari·ly adverb
• un·mili·tary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of military¹

1575–85; < Latin mīlitāri ( s ), equivalent to mīlit- (stem of mīles ) soldier + -āris -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of military¹

C16: via French from Latin mīlitāris, from mīles soldier

Example Sentences

Breaking the will of ISIS, the military argues, is not a statistic.

From The Daily Beast

The American military may have launched hundreds of airstrikes on Iraq and Syria.

From The Daily Beast

The U.S. military has said it is too early to make any conclusions, other than the war is on course.

From The Daily Beast

Where the U.S. once depended on its own forces to determine who was military material, this time the Iraqis will decide.

From The Daily Beast

The Amazon biography for an author named Papa Faal mentions both Gambia and lists a military record that matches the FBI report.

From The Daily Beast

He began his military career at the age of 11, and continued in the service nearly 60 years.

From Project Gutenberg

One, a man of distinguished looks and military bearing, was a little in advance of the other two.

From Project Gutenberg

Two years later this promising recruit, having fallen foul of the military authorities, had to leave the service under a cloud.

From Project Gutenberg

Let me illustrate: Last week, month, or year you saw a military procession pass along the streets.

From Project Gutenberg

At one fell swoop on the field of Jena, the famed military monarchy of the great Frederick fell in pieces like a potter's vessel.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• naval