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

It was declared a disaster zone and militarized on Thursday. — Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 27 June 2026

Thousands remain missing and anger grows over a government response many see as slow and militarized, forcing civilians and foreign teams to lead chaotic search-and-rescue efforts. — Regina Garcia Cano, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026

Cepeda says Colombia cannot simply militarize its way out of a conflict and has offered a middle approach of defending dialogue, calling for stronger enforcement and more visible results. — Ines Capdevila, CNN Money, 21 June 2026

The grid of international borders must therefore be ever more militarized, or else the system of states—which is now explicitly a class system, whose functioning depends on mass immobilization—cannot work. — Literary Hub, 18 May 2026

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