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
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
Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 18 May 2025
Local police wrote in their statement that military weapons experts were also called to the scene and confirmed that the grenade was not live.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 18 May 2025
Wafaa Shurafa, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2025
In 2024, Google terminated 28 employees who participated in an office sit-in protest against the search giant's role in Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion cloud contract between Google, Amazon, and Israel's government and military.
—Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for military
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Hunting is allowed on some existing military reservations, according to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
—Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 18 May 2025
Local police wrote in their statement that military weapons experts were also called to the scene and confirmed that the grenade was not live.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 18 May 2025
Noun
Israel’s military, which recently called up tens of thousands of reservists, said the ground operations are throughout the Palestinian territory’s north and south.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2025
In 2024, Google terminated 28 employees who participated in an office sit-in protest against the search giant's role in Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion cloud contract between Google, Amazon, and Israel's government and military.
—Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for military
Cite this Entry
“Military.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/military. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share