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

Lead Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya announced on October 9 that the militant group had received assurances from the United States and other mediators that its war with Israel had come to an end.

Read more on Barron's

Players can choose to play as any of the countries in the region, including factions as the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which is fighting an insurgency in northern Nigeria, or as the U.S.,

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The list does not include the names of several senior Palestinian militant leaders seen as symbols of resistance and whose release Hamas has demanded.

Read more on Barron's

Islamabad has repeatedly accused Kabul's authorities of harbouring militant groups that launch attacks on Pakistani soil with impunity -- allegations the Taliban government denies.

Read more on Barron's

Israel and the militant group Hamas agreed to the first phase of a deal involving an exchange of Israeli hostages in Gaza and Palestinian detainees.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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