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.

Buss trusted his instincts and went for it, the enlistment of Riley fashioning a culture that remained strong until the death of Buss in 2013.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2026

Some ran towards the borders; others, to the enlistment offices.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

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

Or we might see a soldier who had been wounded or whose enlistment was up walking back to his home.

From "My Brother Sam is Dead" by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

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