militarize

verb

mil·​i·​ta·​rize ˈmi-lə-tə-ˌrīz 

militarized; militarizing

transitive verb

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

militarization

ˌmi-lə-t(ə-)rə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Examples of militarize in a Sentence

militarize a country's foreign policy

Recent Examples on the Web

Though both India and Pakistan have struggled with militant attacks in recent years, they are usually confined to border areas, making the car bombings in Islamabad and Delhi — both heavily surveilled and militarized — incredibly rare. —Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 13 Nov. 2025

If the war ends on any terms other than the total subjugation of Ukraine to Russia, an ever more aggrieved and militarized Ukraine will recover economically and rebuild its defenses with Western support. —Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 11 Nov. 2025

China, the most dangerous party, has militarized the strait, launching large military drills simulating blockades of the island and daily incursions across the median line. —Stephen Wertheim, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2025

By equating political opposition with terrorism, the administration is also militarizing America’s domestic landscape. —Jason M. Blazakis, Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for militarize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize

Kids 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

militarization

ˌmil-ə-t(ə-)rə-ˈzā-shən 

noun