militarism
Americannoun
-
military spirit; pursuit of military ideals
-
domination by the military in the formulation of policies, ideals, etc, esp on a political level
-
a policy of maintaining a strong military organization in aggressive preparedness for war
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of militarism
1860–65; < French militarisme, equivalent to militar- (< Latin mīlitār ( is ) military ) + -isme -ism
Explanation
Places where armed government forces have a strong presence are usually under militarism. A system of militarism would probably buy weapons and outfit soldiers before anything else. Some countries govern through militarism to keep their territories under strong and often bullied rule and to let other countries know that they have guns and bombs and they're not afraid to use them — even on their own people. Militarism often is paired with other nouns like dictatorship showing the strict power of the leadership.
Vocabulary lists containing militarism
Fighting Words: Belli and Milit
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
American History II
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
World War I
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
In his 1953 speech “The Chance for Peace,” a Republican president warned about the human cost of militarism.
From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026
And it plucks a nerve in a country still scarred by its history of militarism.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026
Some remain wary of anything that might be seen as militarism even now, and the armed forces have been chronically underfunded.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2025
The archaic society was known for the prowess of its soldiers and its brawny militarism.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2025
Wildly exaggerated accounts of German atrocities inflamed public opinion and bolstered support for a war that was increasingly seen as a crusade against barbaric German militarism.
From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman
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.
