militarism

[mil-i-tuh-riz-uh m]

noun

a strong military spirit or policy.
the principle or policy of maintaining a large military establishment.
the tendency to regard military efficiency as the supreme ideal of the state and to subordinate all other interests to those of the military.

Origin of militarism

1860–65; < French militarisme, equivalent to militar- (< Latin mīlitār(is) military) + -isme -ism

Related formsan·ti·mil·i·ta·rism, nounpro·mil·i·ta·rism, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for militarism

Contemporary Examples of militarism

What most liberals are passionate about is one thing: opposition to U.S. militarism.
When Liberals Enable Tyrants
Michael Tomasky
September 6, 2013
Was the ‘Great War’ a necessary fight against German militarism, or was it completely avoidable?
The Utterly Pointless First World War
Michael F. Bishop
May 22, 2013
Prussian militarism was unlovely, to be sure, but the Kaiser was no Führer.
The Utterly Pointless First World War
Michael F. Bishop
May 22, 2013
But most recent histories depict it as a necessary fight against German militarism.
The Utterly Pointless First World War
Michael F. Bishop
May 22, 2013
Even more important, we need to pay attention to the emergence of militarism among some military officers.
China’s Risky Path, From Revolution to War
Cheng Li
January 20, 2013

Historical Examples of militarism

Then we will whip German militarism in industry out of the markets of the world.
The Ghost in the White House
Gerald Stanley Lee
Collinot—the oracle of militarism—who was playing picquet, rose.
The False Chevalier
William Douw Lighthall
I will not talk nor allow any one else to talk about "clericalism" and "militarism."
A Miscellany of Men
G. K. Chesterton
The Romans seem to have adopted the Greek view, but they were prepared for it by militarism.
Folkways
William Graham Sumner
We have no satire yet on militarism, or imperialism, or the Monroe doctrine.
Folkways
William Graham Sumner

British Dictionary definitions for militarism

militarism

noun

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for militarism

1864, from French militarisme, from militaire "military" (see military).