militarism

[ mil-i-tuh-riz-uhm ]

noun

1. a strong military spirit or policy.
2. the principle or policy of maintaining a large military establishment.
3. the tendency to regard military efficiency as the supreme ideal of the state and to subordinate all other interests to those of the military.

militarism

/ ˈmɪlɪtəˌrɪzəm /

noun

1. military spirit; pursuit of military ideals
2. domination by the military in the formulation of policies, ideals, etc, esp on a political level
3. a policy of maintaining a strong military organization in aggressive preparedness for war

Other Words From

• anti·mili·ta·rism noun
• pro·mili·ta·rism adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of militarism¹

1860–65; < French militarisme, equivalent to militar- (< Latin mīlitār ( is ) military ) + -isme -ism

Example Sentences

A generous assessment of Trump’s remarks would be that he’s just engaged in typical antiwar rhetoric, lambasting the militarism of those who would start a war but never fight in one themselves.

From Salon

Today, Congress and the White House are in the grip of what Martin Luther King Jr. called “the madness of militarism.”

From Salon

And are even more necessary as democracy is choking on the filth of demagogues, white nationalism, class warfare, militarism, and Christian nationalism.

From Salon

The state and local counterpart to militarism is support for the police.

From Salon

Victims of Japanese aggression during the first half of the 20th century, especially China and the Koreas, see the shrine as a symbol of Japanese militarism.

From Seattle Times