militant

American  

[mil-i-tuhnt] / ˈmɪl ɪ tənt /

adjective

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

   militant reformers.

   Synonyms:

   contentious, combative, belligerent

2. engaged in warfare; fighting.

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noun

1. a militant person.

2. a person engaged in warfare or combat.

militant ¹ British  

/ ˈmɪlɪtənt /

adjective

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

   a militant protest

2. warring; engaged in warfare

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noun

1. a militant person

Militant ² British  

/ ˈmɪlɪtənt /

noun

1. short for Militant Tendency

2. a member of Militant Tendency

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Related Words

See fanatic.

Other Word Forms

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

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”; militate, -ant

Related Words

• assertive
• bellicose
• belligerent
• militaristic
• vigorous
• warring