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

Ansar Dine was one of several Islamist militant groups to exploit an ethnic Tuareg uprising to take over cities in northern Mali.

From BBC

Members of the Palestinian militant group Black September had taken 11 Israeli athletes hostage, demanding the release of hundreds of prisoners held in their country’s jails.

From Los Angeles Times

That means Netanyahu has roughly 70 days to inflict as much damage as possible against Hamas militants in Gaza and the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.

From Los Angeles Times

The Israeli military said it had been striking militant targets in the northern Gaza, including Beit Lahia, in an attempt to stop Hamas from regrouping.

From BBC

Hezbollah's media chief Mohammed Afif has been killed in an Israeli strike in central Beirut, the Lebanese militant group has confirmed.

From BBC

Related Words

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