militarize
verb
mil·i·ta·rize
ˈmi-lə-tə-ˌrīz 
militarized; militarizing
1
: to give a military character to
militarize a country's foreign policy
2
: to equip with military forces and defenses
The area is now fully militarized.
a militarized zone
3
: to adapt for military use
Examples of militarize in a Sentence
militarize a country's foreign policy
Recent Examples on the Web
In the South China Sea, Xi told President Obama that China would not militarize the Spratly Islands, yet soon after began constructing runways, installing radar systems and deploying missiles, culminating in a full-scale military buildup.
—
Michelle Kuo, The Dial, 14 Apr. 2026
The narrow waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil trade passes has been a key point of leverage for Iran, which militarized the Strait at the start of the war and has allowed only a small number of vessels to transit through.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 14 Apr. 2026
China fired warning flares at Philippine coast guard aircraft Thursday, the latest confrontation as Beijing militarizes artificial islands to expand its control over the contested waterway.
—Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Iran’s government, now more hard-line and militarized than ever, will remain in power.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for militarize
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Michelle Kuo, The Dial, 14 Apr. 2026
The narrow waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil trade passes has been a key point of leverage for Iran, which militarized the Strait at the start of the war and has allowed only a small number of vessels to transit through.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 14 Apr. 2026
China fired warning flares at Philippine coast guard aircraft Thursday, the latest confrontation as Beijing militarizes artificial islands to expand its control over the contested waterway.
—Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Iran’s government, now more hard-line and militarized than ever, will remain in power.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for militarize
Cite this Entry
“Militarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/militarize. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
militarize
verb
mil·i·ta·rize
ˈmil-ə-tə-ˌrīz
militarized; militarizing
1
: to equip with military forces and defenses
2
: to give a military character to
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