martial

adjective

mar·​tial ˈmär-shəl How to pronounce martial (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or suited for war or a warrior
martial music
a martial tone of voiceTim Appelo
martial prowess
2
: relating to an army or to military life
martial discipline
stories of martial traditionEwen Macaskill
3
: experienced in or inclined to war : warlike
its martial people fought the British to a standstillMary Anne Weaver
martially adverb

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Martial and Roman Mythology

Mars was the Roman god of war and one of the patron gods of Rome itself. He was responsible for everything military, from warriors to weapons to marching music. Thus, martial arts are skills of combat and self-defense also practiced as sport. When martial law is declared, a country's armed forces take over the functions of the police. And a court-martial is a military court or trial.

Examples of martial in a Sentence

the marching band played “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and several other martial airs one of the basic tenets of martial law
Recent Examples on the Web
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One of the most iconic characters in the franchise, Chun-Li is a skilled martial artist and Interpol officer who first appeared in Street Fighter II in 1991. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 23 June 2025 Roughly a century later, in 1699, the tenth guru prohibited baptized Sikhs from cutting their hair, and the turban became enshrined as a martial and spiritual requirement for men. Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 21 June 2025 Army musicians caught the moment and struck up martial airs. / Cbs News, CBS News, 13 June 2025 Keystone/eda/martial Trezzini | Via Reuters The trade detente between Washington and Beijing appears to be cracking. Jacob Pramuk, CNBC, 2 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for martial

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin martialis of Mars, from Mart-, Mars

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of martial was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Martial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/martial. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

martial

adjective
mar·​tial ˈmär-shəl How to pronounce martial (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or suited for war or a warrior
martial music
2
: of or relating to an army or to military life
martial discipline
martially adverb
Etymology

Middle English martial "relating to or suited for war," from Latin martialis "of Mars," from Mars "god of war"

Biographical Definition

Martial

biographical name

Mar·​tial ˈmär-shəl How to pronounce Martial (audio)
circa a.d. 40–circa 103 Marcus Valerius Martialis Roman epigrammatist

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