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

The Metropolitan Police is deciding what action to take after receiving a report accusing 10 British nationals of war crimes and crimes against humanity while they served in Israel's military in Gaza.

From BBC

The Israeli military initially said its troops fired on "suspicious vehicles" driving with their lights off.

From BBC

There will be an emphasis on the UK's closer military ties with Italy, which Lord Llewellyn said was "vital in a changing Europe, as both our countries stand steadfast in our support for Ukraine".

From BBC

We created the rules under which the global economy operates, the U.S. dollar is the world's reserve currency and we are the world's only military superpower.

From Salon

During 2022, the Home Office took over the former military facility near Ramsgate to help it cope with the number of migrants arriving in the UK in small boats and claiming asylum.

From BBC

Related Words

• naval