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

Clashes between Bedouin tribes, Druze militias and government forces in Suweida led to hundreds of deaths and drew in Israeli military intervention — to protect Syria's Druze minority. —Chris Massaro, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2025

During the genocide, hundreds of thousands of Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by Hutu militias. —Sarah Dean, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025

Some refugees talked about extreme right-wing militias waiting at border controls. —Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Sep. 2025

The country is larger, with a dense network of militias, paramilitaries and foreign allies. —Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, military service, from milit-, miles

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Rhymes for militia

• adventitia
• vicia

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