mil·i·tary
ˈmi-lə-ˌter-ē 
1
a
: of or relating to soldiers, arms, or war
military discipline/life/service
the country's military needs
a military career
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
a military coup
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
Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 30 Dec. 2025
Still, India is massively ramping up its military infrastructure there to deter China in a potential future conflict, The Wall Street Journal reported.
—semafor.com, 29 Dec. 2025
Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 29 Dec. 2025
Richard Horsey, a Myanmar analyst for the International Crisis Group, noted that the vote is being run by the same military that was behind the 2021 coup.
—Arkansas Online, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for military
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show current usage.
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Adjective
Porta Metronia, just a stone's throw away, features nearly 260-foot-long military barracks dating back to the second century AD.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 30 Dec. 2025
Still, India is massively ramping up its military infrastructure there to deter China in a potential future conflict, The Wall Street Journal reported.
—semafor.com, 29 Dec. 2025
Noun
Fresh images circulating online in late December indicate that South Korea’s military is actively experimenting with new protective measures for its frontline armor.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 29 Dec. 2025
Richard Horsey, a Myanmar analyst for the International Crisis Group, noted that the vote is being run by the same military that was behind the 2021 coup.
—Arkansas Online, 28 Dec. 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 1 Jan. 2026.
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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