militant

[ mil-i-tuhnt ]

adjective

1. aggressively active or combative in support of a cause:

   militant reformers.

   Synonyms: contentious, combative, belligerent

2. engaged in warfare; fighting.

noun

1. a militant person.
2. a person engaged in warfare or combat.

militant

¹

/ ˈmɪlɪtənt /

adjective

1. aggressive or vigorous, esp in the support of a cause

   a militant protest

2. warring; engaged in warfare

noun

1. a militant person

Militant

²

/ ˈmɪlɪtənt /

noun

1. short for Militant Tendency
2. a member of Militant Tendency

Derived Forms

• ˈmilitantly, adverb
• ˈmilitancy, noun

Other Words From

• mil·i·tan·cy mil·i·tant·ness noun
• mil·i·tant·ly adverb
• hy·per·mil·i·tant adjective
• hy·per·mil·i·tant·ly adverb
• non·mil·i·tant adjective noun
• non·mil·i·tant·ly adverb
• su·per·mil·i·tant adjective
• ul·tra·mil·i·tant adjective
• un·mil·i·tant adjective
• un·mil·i·tant·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of militant¹

First recorded in 1400–1450; late Middle English, from Latin mīlitant- (stem of mīlitāns ), present participle of mīlitāre “to serve as a soldier”; militate, -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of militant¹

C15: from Latin mīlitāre to be a soldier, from mīles soldier

Synonym Study

See fanatic.

Example Sentences

But the enemy of the new emirs is neither the Jew nor the Christian, it is the godless militant defending secularism.

From The Daily Beast

At least one child in CAR has been killed or gravely injured per day, and 10,000 have been recruited into militant groups.

From The Daily Beast

This led to the formation of a Christian militant group to counter the rebels, and all-out sectarian violence exploded.

From The Daily Beast

Among those claimed dead is Abu Muslim al-Turkmani, the most senior militant leader slain this year.

From The Daily Beast

Better, she says, to use local Muslim leaders and others in civil society to criticize militant arguments.

From The Daily Beast

Daphne was still erect, self-confident, militant; whereas Madeleine knew herself vanquished—vanquished both in body and soul.

From Project Gutenberg

His policy, formerly in the main a conciliatory one, now became militant.

From Project Gutenberg

Nothing could have been more militant than her denunciation of militancy.

From Project Gutenberg

Gus gazed calmly at the five militant youths in front of him.

From Project Gutenberg

They will always remember that thou wert their faithful mother, their robust nurse, and their church militant.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• assertive
• bellicose
• belligerent
• militaristic
• vigorous
• warring