militant
adjective
aggressively active or combative in support of a cause.
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militant
American
[mil-i-tuhnt]
/ ˈmɪl ɪ tənt /
adjective
-
aggressively active or combative in support of a cause.
militant reformers.
- Synonyms:
- contentious, combative, belligerent
-
engaged in warfare; fighting.
noun
-
a militant person.
-
a person engaged in warfare or combat.
militant
1
British
/ ˈmɪlɪtənt /
adjective
-
aggressive or vigorous, esp in the support of a cause
a militant protest
-
warring; engaged in warfare
noun
Militant
2
British
/ ˈmɪlɪtənt /
noun
-
short for Militant Tendency
-
a member of Militant Tendency
Related Words
See fanatic.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of militant
First recorded in 1400–1450; late Middle English, from Latin mīlitant- (stem of mīlitāns ), present participle of mīlitāre “to serve as a soldier”; see militate, -ant
Explanation
A militant is someone who is engaged in a war or who acts aggressively for their cause. If you are militant in your beliefs, you do not question them any more than a soldier questions his orders. In the context of undeclared or guerrilla warfare, enemy fighters are often referred to not as soldiers but as militants, because they are not members of a formal army. As an adjective, militant often has a negative feel — people on one side of a debate will often try to cast those on the other side as militants.
Vocabulary lists containing militant
Fighting Words: Belli and Milit
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "M"
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The Autobiography of Malcolm X
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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.
U.S. aid has been a lifeline for communities whose desperation can be exploited by militant recruiters.
From Salon • May 19, 2026
People living in the Iraqi desert have witnessed strange activity over the years, from militant groups like Islamic State to special operations teams, and have learned to stay away, Knights said.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026
The crisis - triggered after a deadly militant attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, and culminating in military strikes by India and retaliatory action from Pakistan - lasted barely 90 hours.
From BBC • May 7, 2026
Australia made it an offence to travel to the Islamic State's stronghold of Raqqa province in Syria between 2014 and 2017, an attempt to stop its citizens joining the militant group.
From Barron's • May 6, 2026
She quickly rounded up a half dozen other militant students and within the hour, every blackboard on campus had scrawled on it: “Malcolm to speak, 12 noon, ice-cream-shop.”
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
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.
