militant
Americanadjective
-
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.
adjective
-
aggressive or vigorous, esp in the support of a cause
a militant protest
-
warring; engaged in warfare
noun
noun
-
short for Militant Tendency
-
a member of Militant Tendency
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
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.
Though weakened, the militant group has said it is ready for a long confrontation.
From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026
The Puntland Forces managed to push IS-Somalia out of Bosaso at the start of 2025, but the militant group still controlled villages and small towns in the nearby al-Miskad mountains.
From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026
A Rand report, Hezbollah’s Networks in Latin America, found that the militant group had a considerable network that was active in the Southern Hemisphere.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026
Other militant groups across the region have stayed out of the fight, either biding their time or hoping to avoid retaliation.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026
Anna Howard Shaw thought Paul was too young and too militant for the job, but she decided to give her a chance after progressive reformer and suffragist Jane Addams spoke up on Paul’s behalf.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
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.
