Minuteman

[ min-it-man ]

noun

, plural Min·ute·men.

1. (sometimes lowercase) a member of a group of American militiamen just before and during the Revolutionary War who held themselves in readiness for instant military service.
2. a U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile with three stages, powered by solid-propellant rocket engines.
3. a member of a small, secret, ultraconservative organization formed into armed groups for the declared purpose of conducting guerrilla warfare against a communist invasion of the U.S.

Minuteman

/ ˈmɪnɪtˌmæn /

noun

1. sometimes not capital (in the War of American Independence) a colonial militiaman who promised to be ready to fight at one minute's notice
2. a US three-stage intercontinental ballistic missile

Word History and Origins

Origin of Minuteman¹

An Americanism dating back to 1765–75; minute ¹ + man

Example Sentences

That’s DeJon Jarreau, formerly a Massachusetts Minuteman, who also happens to be the team’s best defender.

From Washington Post

At some point, Forde founded her own outfit, the Minuteman American Defense.

From The Daily Beast

But I did find a photograph of my brother, dressed as a minuteman, and one of me in costume, too.

From The Daily Beast

The minuteman wanted to go back to ordinary life and his family.

From Project Gutenberg

It is in its community a sort of intellectual minuteman, always ready to supply to every comer something of interest and pleasure.

From Project Gutenberg

Beyond is Concord, with its bridge, well-site, and bronze minuteman.

From Project Gutenberg