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
Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for civilian, not military, purposes.
—Jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 24 June 2025
Although Pakistan claims its nuclear program is strictly focused on deterring India, which enjoys conventional military superiority, U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that the Pakistani military is developing an ICBM that could reach the continental United States.
—Vipin Narang, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for military
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Adjective
After all, this was a direct Iranian attack on the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East.
—Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for civilian, not military, purposes.
—Jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
Noun
An early intelligence assessment reportedly found that Tehran’s nuclear program was set back by only months after U.S. military strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities this past weekend, findings that the Trump administration is pushing back against.
—Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 24 June 2025
Although Pakistan claims its nuclear program is strictly focused on deterring India, which enjoys conventional military superiority, U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that the Pakistani military is developing an ICBM that could reach the continental United States.
—Vipin Narang, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 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 4 Jul. 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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