active service

noun

: participation in a battle or battles
He saw no active service during his time in the army.

Examples of active service in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Shah — a professor of military science at the university’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps — joined the Army in 2003, which included active service, and was deployed in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to the university’s website. Holmes Lybrand, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026 More than 50% of the cast of The Return are therefore veterans or active service members. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 4 Mar. 2026 More recently, volunteer Alpini have aided active service comrades in national emergencies, including avalanches and the Covid-19 pandemic. New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026 Spirit's ongoing struggles Spirit Airlines recently sold 20 aircraft, most of which had not been in active service. Mike Diamond, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for active service

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Active service.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/active%20service. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster