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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.

The U.S. military drew up plans for strikes on nuclear installations, and Defense Secretary Bill Perry presented a plan for a large military buildup in the region.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

“We have to take care of one thing: military protection.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Notably, verified video that emerged from Iran on Friday appeared to show US military helicopters and at least one refuelling aircraft operating over Iran's Khuzestan province.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

For 2027, President Donald Trump is asking for a record military defense budget of $1.5 trillion as part of the White House’s proposed budget plan.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

We knew Germany’s military was stronger than ours.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

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.