martial

¹

[mahr-shuhl]

adjective

1. inclined or disposed to war; warlike.

   The ancient Romans were a martial people.

2. of, suitable for, or associated with war or the armed forces.

   martial music.

   Synonyms: soldierly, military

3. characteristic of or befitting a warrior.

   a martial stride.

Martial

²

[mahr-shuhl]

noun

1. Marcus Valerius Martialis, a.d. 43?–104?, Roman epigrammatist, born in Spain.

Martial

¹

/ ˈmɑːʃəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to Mars

Martial

²

/ ˈmɑːʃəl /

noun

1. full name Marcus Valerius Martialis. ?40–?104 _ad , Latin epigrammatist and poet, born in Spain

martial

³

/ ˈmɑːʃəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of war, soldiers, or the military life

Other Word Forms

• martialism noun
• martialist noun
• martially adverb
• martialness noun
• nonmartial adjective
• nonmartially adverb
• nonmartialness noun
• unmartial adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of martial¹

1325–75; Middle English < Latin Mārtiālis of, belonging to Mars, equivalent to Mārti- (stem of Mārs ) + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of martial¹

C14: from Latin martiālis of _Mars ¹

Example Sentences

The younger Jackson — who is also a trained mixed martial artist — was a guest at the event and was livestreaming his visit on the platform Kick when he was approached backstage by Smith.

From Los Angeles Times

"This is a nation of constitutional law, not martial law," she wrote in her ruling.

From BBC

“This historical tradition boils down to a simple proposition,” she added: “This is a nation of Constitutional law, not martial law.”

From Los Angeles Times

Mixed martial arts is a style of full-contact fighting that combines techniques and styles from various sports, including wrestling, judo and jiu-jitsu — you get the picture.

From Salon

These may seem unexpected responses to a film that, right off the bat, showcases brutal, bloody mixed martial arts fighting.

From Los Angeles Times

When To Use

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.