What does martial mean? Martial means relating to war, combat, or military life. It’s most commonly used in the phrases martial arts, martial law, and court-martial. Less commonly, martial can mean warlike or characteristic of a warrior. Example: Most marches originated as martial music that was used to help soldiers march.
1325–75; Middle English < Latin Mārtiālis of, belonging to Mars, equivalent to Mārti- (stem of Mārs ) + -ālis -al 1
An adjective referring to the military, the word martial adds a warlike tone to any noun it describes. The word martial derives from Mars, the Roman god of war. It refers to almost much anything military, including "martial law," in which the government orders the military to administer the law. The word definitely makes one think of fighting, as in the physical discipline known as the martial arts. But there is a lighter side to the word, too. Martial music, usually associated with the military, is usually bright and inspiring.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Once a close ally of Yoon, Han broke with the former president over martial law.
From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026
And her explanation of why she loves anime is very similar to the philosophies that drew RZA to kung fu movies and, eventually, Asian philosophies and martial arts.
From Salon • May 31, 2026
Most of that effort so far has been concentrated in sports, including National Football League games on Christmas, boxing and mixed martial arts, and World Wrestling Entertainment’s “Raw.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026
Gomez recently shared a glimpse inside the couple’s martial home, revealing that they have focused on incorporating color into the property with vibrant shelves and blue cabinets in their kitchen.
From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026
As Calixte had bemoaned, most of the theories were martial ones, involving conquest, weapons, and defense.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
