Synonyms

enlistment

American

[en-list-muhnt] / ɛnˈlɪst mənt /

noun

the period of time for which one is committed to military service.
an act of enlisting.

Other Word Forms

preenlistment noun

Etymology

Origin of enlistment

First recorded in 1740–50; enlist + -ment

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And yet, it also showed that I had accepted a final job offer and that my onboarding status was “EOD”—Entered On Duty, the start of an enlistment period.

From Slate • Jan. 13, 2026

Among the American troops, there were mutinies and desertions and soldiers simply going home when their enlistment was up.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 14, 2025

In 2022, it had more than twice the per capita military enlistment rate of the highest U.S. state, according to the Government Accountability Office.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

Acknowledge young Henry Kissinger’s physical courage, his enlistment as a young refugee in the American army, his willingness to risk his life in the battle to liberate Europe from Hitler.

From Salon • Nov. 1, 2025

The war then passed away from me, and dreams of enlistment and escape and a clean start lost their meaning for me.

From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023