militarism

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

/ ˈmɪl ɪ təˌrɪz əm /

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.

Nearby words

milit., militant, militant tendency, militantly, militaria, militarism, militarist, militaristic, militarize, militarized, military

Origin of militarism

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

Related forms

an·ti·mil·i·ta·rism, nounpro·mil·i·ta·rism, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for militarism

What most liberals are passionate about is one thing: opposition to U.S. militarism.
When Liberals Enable Tyrants|Michael Tomasky|September 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
It has been compelled to face German militarism by erecting a system of universal military training.
A School History of the Great War|Albert E. McKinley, Charles A. Coulomb, and Armand J. Gerson
In such a country, militarism is not the scourge it is with us; and the difference is due to the Confucian ethics.
The Problem of China|Bertrand Russell
He had thought it fitting to be a determined enemy to militarism.
Aspects and Impressions|Edmund Gosse
All the plant has been made since 1914, in answer to the challenge of German militarism.
The Western Front|Muirhead Bone
And militarism, which is the support of the aristocracy, has been placed at the service of capitalistic ambition.
New York Times Current History; The European War, Vol 2, No. 2, May, 1915|Various

British Dictionary definitions for militarism

militarism

/ (ˈmɪlɪtəˌrɪzəm) /

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