militant

[mil-i-tuhnt]

adjective

1. aggressively active or combative in support of a cause.

   militant reformers.

   Synonyms: contentious, combative, belligerent

2. engaged in warfare; fighting.

noun

1. a militant person.

2. a person engaged in warfare or combat.

militant

¹

/ ˈmɪlɪtənt /

adjective

1. aggressive or vigorous, esp in the support of a cause

   a militant protest

2. warring; engaged in warfare

noun

1. a militant person

Militant

²

/ ˈmɪlɪtənt /

noun

1. short for Militant Tendency

2. a member of Militant Tendency

Other Word Forms

• militancy noun
• militantness noun
• militantly adverb
• hypermilitant adjective
• hypermilitantly adverb
• nonmilitant adjective
• nonmilitantly adverb
• supermilitant adjective
• ultramilitant adjective
• unmilitant adjective
• unmilitantly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of militant¹

First recorded in 1400–1450; late Middle English, from Latin mīlitant- (stem of mīlitāns ), present participle of mīlitāre “to serve as a soldier”; militate, -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of militant¹

C15: from Latin mīlitāre to be a soldier, from mīles soldier

Synonym Study

See fanatic.

Example Sentences

Seven people have gone on trial in Dresden, eastern Germany, charged with being members or supporters of a militant, criminal left-wing extremist group, Antifa Ost - also known as the "hammer gang".

Read more on BBC

A source in Islamic Jihad, who requested anonymity, confirmed the body belonged to one of the last three hostages held by militants in the territory.

Read more on Barron's

The veteran militant—born to a Lebanese mother and Iranian father—had risen through the ranks and helped build out Tehran’s broader network of militias surrounding Israel.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

For months, campaigners and politicians in Washington have been alleging that Islamist militants are systematically targeting Christians.

Read more on BBC

Israel’s military said Friday that 15 militants emerged from underground in eastern Rafah on its side of the so-called yellow line that divides Gaza.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• assertive 
• bellicose 
• belligerent 
• militaristic www.thesaurus.com
• vigorous 
• warring www.thesaurus.com