military
Americanadjective
-
of, for, or pertaining to the army or armed forces, often as distinguished from the navy.
from civilian to military life.
-
of, for, or pertaining to war.
military preparedness.
-
of or relating to soldiers.
-
befitting, characteristic of, or noting a soldier.
a military bearing.
-
following the life of a soldier.
a military career.
-
performed by soldiers.
military duty.
noun
adjective
-
of or relating to the armed forces (esp the army), warlike matters, etc
-
of, characteristic of, or about soldiers
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of military
1575–85; < Latin mīlitāri ( s ), equivalent to mīlit- (stem of mīles ) soldier + -āris -ary
Explanation
Ten, hut! So you'd like the definition of military? Yes, Sir! The adjective military is used to describe anything related to the armed forces or soldiers. Stemming from the Latin word for "soldier," military is a word that goes hand in hand with war. It's the military that protects a country's interests, lead by generals and powered by brave soldiers. When used as an adjective, military describes anything that's related to, well, the military: salutes, campaigns, uniforms, etc.
Vocabulary lists containing military
Veterans Day Vocabulary
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!
Fighting Words: Belli and Milit
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!
Franklin D. Roosevelt, "A Date That Will Live In Infamy" (1941)
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.
Russia's military said that its air defence units had intercepted or shot down 326 Ukrainian drones over a number of regions overnight.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
The drill was the highlight of two days of military exercises showcasing Taiwan’s preparations to combat an amphibious invasion.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
He volunteered to fight, then set up his own drone unit -- "Madyar's Birds" -- well before many had realised the full importance of the technology, quickly earning plaudits inside the military.
From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026
"Thomas used to wear an old military parka that a lot of the players liked," he said.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
The Japanese military have several reasons to attack Pearl Harbor and the Philippines in quick succession.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
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.
