military

[ mil-i-ter-ee ]

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

/ ˈmɪlɪtərɪ; -trɪ /

adjective

1. of or relating to the armed forces (esp the army), warlike matters, etc
2. of, characteristic of, or about soldiers

noun

1. the military
   the armed services (esp the army)

Derived Forms

• ˈmilitarily, adverb

Other Word Forms

• mil·i·tar·i·ly [mil-i-, tair, -, uh, -lee, mil, -i-ter-, uh, -lee], adverb
• mili·tari·ness noun
• anti·mili·tary adjective
• non·mili·tary adjective
• pre·mili·tary adjective
• pro·mili·tary adjective
• pseudo·mili·tari·ly adverb
• pseudo·mili·tary adjective
• quasi-mili·tary adjective
• super·mili·tary adjective noun
• unmil·i·tari·ly adverb
• un·mili·tary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of military¹

1575–85; < Latin mīlitāri ( s ), equivalent to mīlit- (stem of mīles ) soldier + -āris -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of military¹

C16: via French from Latin mīlitāris, from mīles soldier

Example Sentences

In his late teens, he grew interested in Central America, where the U.S. was funding military efforts against leftist guerrillas in El Salvador and the revolutionary Sandinista government in Nicaragua.

From Los Angeles Times

“This is creating a public health crisis, not just for local communities, but also our military.”

From Los Angeles Times

The BBC has asked the Israeli military for comment on the strike.

From BBC

In a very important, yet under-reported story, Donald Trump has ordered the United States military to take control of public lands on the U.S.-Mexico border, where it will have de facto police powers.

From Salon

That was what helped lead investigators to the military base near the airport.

From BBC

Related Words

• naval