militancy

American  

[mil-i-tuhn-see] / ˈmɪl ɪ tən si /

Sometimes militantness

noun

1. 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.

2. 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.

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Other Word Forms

• hypermilitantcy noun
• nonmilitancy noun
• supermilitancy noun
• ultramilitancy noun

Etymology

Origin of militancy

milit(ant) ( def. ) + -ancy ( def. )

Example Sentences

Local grievances over alleged human-rights violations and economic concerns have led some young, educated people, including women, to turn to militancy.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

These strikes and regulations showed renewed labor militancy.

From The Wall Street Journal

In this nerve-racking thriller that so often mirrors our real world, militancy’s intense volume is futile when it falls on deaf ears.

From Salon

See trucking company Yellow Corp., which filed for bankruptcy in 2023 in part owing to Mr. O’Brien’s labor militancy.

From The Wall Street Journal