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
Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
Visas for Pakistani citizens were limited, many Pakistanis were given a deadline to leave the country, diplomatic ties were downgraded, a land border between the two was shut down, and Pakistani military advisers were expelled from the New Delhi mission.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2025
Sheera Frenkel, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
The Pakistani military and its main intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence, have been accused of directly backing jihadist terrorist groups, including Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, and Jama’at-ud-Dawa.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for military
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Adjective
The singer is also seen in the video wearing a shirt featuring pieces of a keffiyeh, a traditional headdress worn in some parts of the Middle East and viewed largely as a symbol of Palestinian resistance to Israeli military occupation.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
Visas for Pakistani citizens were limited, many Pakistanis were given a deadline to leave the country, diplomatic ties were downgraded, a land border between the two was shut down, and Pakistani military advisers were expelled from the New Delhi mission.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
The Israeli military did not have that problem, the three officers said.
—Sheera Frenkel, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
The Pakistani military and its main intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence, have been accused of directly backing jihadist terrorist groups, including Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, and Jama’at-ud-Dawa.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 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 7 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
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