mil·i·tary
ˈmi-lə-ˌter-ē 
1
a
: of or relating to soldiers, arms, or war
military discipline
the country's military needs
b
: of or relating to armed forces
especially
: of or relating to ground or sometimes ground and air forces as opposed to naval forces
military and naval affairs
2
a
: performed or made by armed forces
military operations
b
: supported by armed force
a military government
3
: of or relating to the army
the military academy at West Point
plural military also militaries
1
: military persons
especially
: army officers
2
Examples of military in a Sentence
Adjective
He is being tried in a military court rather than in a civilian court.
He has had a long military career.
Noun
There were many military present but only a few civilians.
some would insist that the military's budget is still inadequate
Recent Examples on the Web
Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 7 Aug. 2025
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, however, is an ardent nationalist who doesn’t roll over easily and his country still relies on Moscow for a significant chunk of its military equipment.
—Daniel Depetris, Time, 7 Aug. 2025
Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 9 Aug. 2025
The move, which was announced this week, comes after the Supreme Court granted the Pentagon permission to ban all transgender troops serving in the US military.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for military
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Adjective
And, in the decades since, lower-level radiation exposure from the bombs would lead tens of thousands of people who lived in or near the blast zones – or who were ordered into the cities to serve as military peacekeepers – to develop cancers and other diseases.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 7 Aug. 2025
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, however, is an ardent nationalist who doesn’t roll over easily and his country still relies on Moscow for a significant chunk of its military equipment.
—Daniel Depetris, Time, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
But after the fall of Saigon and Laos 50 years ago, the Hmong were persecuted for allying with the American military and many fled, some of them admitted into the U.S. as legal refugees.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 9 Aug. 2025
The move, which was announced this week, comes after the Supreme Court granted the Pentagon permission to ban all transgender troops serving in the US military.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for military
Cite this Entry
“Military.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/military. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
military
1 of 2 adjective
mil·i·tary
ˈmil-ə-ˌter-ē
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of soldiers, arms, or war
military discipline
2
: carried on or supported by armed force
a military government
3
: of or relating to the army
military and naval affairs
military
2 of 2 noun
plural military
1
2
: military persons
especially
: army officers
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