mil·i·tary
ˈmi-lə-ˌter-ē 
1
a
: of or relating to soldiers, arms, or war
military discipline
the country's military needs
b
: of or relating to armed forces
especially
: of or relating to ground or sometimes ground and air forces as opposed to naval forces
military and naval affairs
2
a
: performed or made by armed forces
military operations
b
: supported by armed force
a military government
3
: of or relating to the army
the military academy at West Point
plural military also militaries
1
: military persons
especially
: army officers
2
Synonyms
Examples of military in a Sentence
Adjective
He is being tried in a military court rather than in a civilian court.
He has had a long military career.
Noun
There were many military present but only a few civilians.
some would insist that the military's budget is still inadequate
Recent Examples on the Web
Vic Chiang, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2023
These military and paramilitary actions have increased the risk of accidents and an unexpected conflict.
—Hou Yu-Ih, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2023
But the new rulers are capitalizing on the anti-French sentiment running though the capital, as well as widespread nostalgia for previous military rulers.
—Elian Peltier, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023
As a military brat growing up in Guam, Spain, Guantánamo Bay and Korea, nothing in my upbringing prepared me for playing a 16th-century British king.
—Mike Klingaman, Baltimore Sun, 18 Sep. 2023
It’s been months since BTS has conducted activities as a full group due to the members’ recent solo music endeavors and fulfilling South Korea’s military enlistment requirement.
—Starr Bowenbank, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2023
People that were sophisticated, military people, and political people never heard of Nord Stream 2.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 17 Sep. 2023
The top American military officer and the other defense chiefs from NATO countries are meeting at the Holmenkollen ski area on the edge of Oslo over the next several days to discuss support for Ukraine and other regional defense issues.
—Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 17 Sep. 2023
North Korea is heavily sanctioned and is in need of everything from energy to food to military technology.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN, 17 Sep. 2023
Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023
The prisoner release unfolded amid a major American military buildup in the Persian Gulf, with the possibility of US troops boarding and guarding commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of all oil shipments pass.
—Ellen Knickmeyer, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Sep. 2023
In France the anti-toxin is kept with the French military and had to be brought to the hospital.
—Alan Gionet, CBS News, 19 Sep. 2023
Erdogan has been encouraging development of a self-sufficient defense industry, including production of unmanned combat aircraft, to support Turkey’s military in a region mired in conflict.
—Selcan Hacaoglu, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2023
When Japan invaded the Chinese province of Manchuria in September 1931, an ensign in the United States Naval Reserves, looking to support the Chinese military, visited Chung at her practice.
—Nina Chhita, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023
Republicans for Ukraine launched the ad campaign on Monday, which scores each GOP member in Congress based on his or her past statements and support for Ukraine amid an invasion from the Russian military.
—Cami Mondeaux, Washington Examiner, 18 Sep. 2023
These operatives are mostly ex–law enforcement or military and focus on small-arms weapons and evasive driving while still fitting in at any etiquette-intensive reception.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 17 Sep. 2023
Their western expansion invaded Indigenous land, limiting their hunting grounds and haunting them with the constant threat of violence from the American military.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN, 16 Sep. 2023
See More
Adjective
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said 103 Chinese military aircraft and nine navy vessels were detected near Taiwan as of 6 a.m. local time Monday.
—Vic Chiang, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2023
These military and paramilitary actions have increased the risk of accidents and an unexpected conflict.
—Hou Yu-Ih, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2023
But the new rulers are capitalizing on the anti-French sentiment running though the capital, as well as widespread nostalgia for previous military rulers.
—Elian Peltier, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023
As a military brat growing up in Guam, Spain, Guantánamo Bay and Korea, nothing in my upbringing prepared me for playing a 16th-century British king.
—Mike Klingaman, Baltimore Sun, 18 Sep. 2023
It’s been months since BTS has conducted activities as a full group due to the members’ recent solo music endeavors and fulfilling South Korea’s military enlistment requirement.
—Starr Bowenbank, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2023
People that were sophisticated, military people, and political people never heard of Nord Stream 2.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 17 Sep. 2023
The top American military officer and the other defense chiefs from NATO countries are meeting at the Holmenkollen ski area on the edge of Oslo over the next several days to discuss support for Ukraine and other regional defense issues.
—Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 17 Sep. 2023
North Korea is heavily sanctioned and is in need of everything from energy to food to military technology.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN, 17 Sep. 2023
Noun
Under emergency rule, the national police and military have detained suspects inside homes, in backyard hammocks, at construction sites.
—Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023
The prisoner release unfolded amid a major American military buildup in the Persian Gulf, with the possibility of US troops boarding and guarding commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of all oil shipments pass.
—Ellen Knickmeyer, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Sep. 2023
In France the anti-toxin is kept with the French military and had to be brought to the hospital.
—Alan Gionet, CBS News, 19 Sep. 2023
Erdogan has been encouraging development of a self-sufficient defense industry, including production of unmanned combat aircraft, to support Turkey’s military in a region mired in conflict.
—Selcan Hacaoglu, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2023
When Japan invaded the Chinese province of Manchuria in September 1931, an ensign in the United States Naval Reserves, looking to support the Chinese military, visited Chung at her practice.
—Nina Chhita, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023
Republicans for Ukraine launched the ad campaign on Monday, which scores each GOP member in Congress based on his or her past statements and support for Ukraine amid an invasion from the Russian military.
—Cami Mondeaux, Washington Examiner, 18 Sep. 2023
These operatives are mostly ex–law enforcement or military and focus on small-arms weapons and evasive driving while still fitting in at any etiquette-intensive reception.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 17 Sep. 2023
Their western expansion invaded Indigenous land, limiting their hunting grounds and haunting them with the constant threat of violence from the American military.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN, 16 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'military.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing military
Dictionary Entries Near military
Cite this Entry
“Military.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/military. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
military
1 of 2 adjective
mil·i·tary
ˈmil-ə-ˌter-ē
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of soldiers, arms, or war
military discipline
2
: carried on or supported by armed force
a military government
3
: of or relating to the army
military and naval affairs
military
2 of 2 noun
plural military
1
2
: military persons
especially
: army officers
More from Merriam-Webster on military
Nglish: Translation of military for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of military for Arabic Speakers
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