militancy
Americannoun
-
aggressive activism or combativeness in supporting or agitating for a cause.
Many labor experts credit the early militancy of the Industrial Workers of the World as leading to the eight-hour work day.
-
the act of engaging or readiness to engage in war or armed aggression.
In September 1914, Planck signed the "Manifesto of 93 German intellectuals to the civilized world" in support of the growing militancy of Germany.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of militancy
Explanation
Militancy means using violence or aggressiveness, usually to support a cause. Militancy make sense on the battlefield but is unwelcome in the school cafeteria during lunch. So no food fights. The noun militancy comes from militant, "combative, violent, or confrontational," which we can trace back to the Latin miles, or "soldier." When soldiers employ militancy, it makes sense, since they are members of the military, which is all about aggression and combat. Seeing militancy in schools or on city streets is a lot more alarming to most people.
Vocabulary lists containing militancy
Fighting Words: Belli and Milit
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Revolution in Our Time
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"Nobody Turn Me Around: A People's History of the 1963 March on Washington" by Charles Euchner
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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.
She differed from Mr. Reynoso mainly in the degree of her militancy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
But the Taliban government has denied any involvement or the use of Afghan territory for militancy.
From Barron's ● Mar. 13, 2026
Before moving to Paris, Matthew was a reporter in the Journal's Brussels bureau for seven years, where his coverage ranged from the eurozone economic crisis to Islamist militancy in Europe.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 22, 2026
Of course, the picture of a Nigerien nuclear power station that Tsivilev has painted poses huge questions - technical, economic and in relation to security in a region notorious for Islamist militancy.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2025
The ANC wanted the people to see its new militancy, but also to see that it was controlled and responsible.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
