militia

noun

mi·​li·​tia mə-ˈli-shə 

plural militias

1

a

: a part of the organized armed forces of a country liable to call only in emergency

The militia was called to quell the riot.

b

: a body of citizens organized for military service

2

: the whole body of able-bodied male citizens declared by law as being subject to call to military service

3

: a private group of armed individuals that operates as a paramilitary force and is typically motivated by a political or religious ideology

specifically : such a group that aims to defend individual rights against government authority that is perceived as oppressive

Examples of militia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The winning documentary features Times criminal justice editor Keegan Hamilton shadowing a militia group operating near the U.S.-Mexico border. —Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024

Soon afterward, Arab militias began a series of attacks on the Jewish population, and Zionist groups retaliated with actions against Arab communities. —Tom Segev, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024

What’s Happening: Insurgent groups, including pro-democracy forces and ethnic militias, are battling the junta’s soldiers. —Hannah Beech Adam Ferguson, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2024

Last weekend, Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel, after historically using proxy militias to target the country. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 20 Apr. 2024

Concerned about attacks from Native Americans, Floyd recruited a militia and built barriers around the settlement, according to the Carnegie Center for Art and History. —Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 18 Apr. 2024

In the past six months, the Houthi militia has repeatedly attacked Western ships transiting the Red Sea, disrupting the global economy, and Hezbollah has launched limited missile strikes into northern Israel. —Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2024

But never mind: In mere moments Civil War gives you its first unpleasant sequence, a stop at a gas station run by scary militia members. —Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2024

For the past month or so, those militia attacks have stopped. —Greg Myre, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, military service, from milit-, miles

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Kids Definition

militia

noun

mi·​li·​tia mə-ˈlish-ə 

: a body of citizens with some military training who are called to active duty only in an emergency