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Synonyms

military

American  
[mil-i-ter-ee] / ˈmɪl ɪˌtɛr i /

adjective

  1. of, for, or pertaining to the army or armed forces, often as distinguished from the navy.

    from civilian to military life.

  2. of, for, or pertaining to war.

    military preparedness.

  3. of or relating to soldiers.

    Synonyms:
    martial, soldierly
  4. befitting, characteristic of, or noting a soldier.

    a military bearing.

  5. following the life of a soldier.

    a military career.

  6. performed by soldiers.

    military duty.


noun

plural

militaries, military
  1. the military,

    1. the military establishment of a nation; the armed forces.

    2. military personnel, especially commissioned officers, taken collectively.

      the bar, the press, and the military.

military British  
/ ˈmɪlɪtərɪ, -trɪ /

adjective

  1. of or relating to the armed forces (esp the army), warlike matters, etc

  2. of, characteristic of, or about soldiers

"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

noun

  1. the armed services (esp the army)

"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

Other Word Forms

  • antimilitary adjective
  • militarily adverb
  • militariness noun
  • nonmilitary adjective
  • premilitary adjective
  • promilitary adjective
  • pseudomilitarily adverb
  • pseudomilitary adjective
  • quasi-military adjective
  • supermilitary adjective
  • unmilitarily adverb
  • unmilitary adjective

Etymology

Origin of military

1575–85; < Latin mīlitāri ( s ), equivalent to mīlit- (stem of mīles ) soldier + -āris -ary

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.

It is the first time the country has acknowledged that dozens of its nationals are in military service to Russia.

From BBC

The European Union and Australia agreed to a free-trade deal and security partnership, the latest move by U.S. allies to rethink their economic and military relationships at a time of rapidly growing geopolitical uncertainty.

From The Wall Street Journal

One military spokesperson even mocked the claim, saying Americans had been "negotiating with themselves".

From BBC

Iranians marched in support of the country's military in the capital Tehran on Wednesday, waving the country's flag and holding pictures of new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

From Barron's

House Speaker Mike Johnson echoed the White House's confidence when he told reporters on Capitol Hill he thinks the US is "wrapping up" the military operation.

From BBC