active duty

American  

noun

Military.

1. the status of full-time service.

   on active duty.

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active duty Idioms  

1. Full-time service, as in Julian is 81, but he still comes to the office every day and is very much on active duty. This term comes from the military, where it stands in opposition to reserve, which refers to troops still in the military but not actively engaged. It is occasionally transferred to civilian matters as well. [First half of 1800s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

active duty

When one performer asked active duty military and veterans to stand up, nearly half the stadium appeared to rise.

From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026

Van Dyke has been an active duty soldier in the US since 2008 and has been a master sergeant with the US Army Special Forces since 2023, according to the indictment.

From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2026

Kelly could even be recalled to active duty, then court-martialed, an act that would remove his military status entirely and even land the senator in prison.

From Slate ● Jan. 13, 2026

The players only play for the love of the game, graduate, then go on to active duty in the armed forces for a minimum of five years.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 10, 2026

The governor sent his sons to order the men back to active duty, but the soldiers refused to go.

From "Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen" by Susan Blackaby