mil·i·tary
ˈmi-lə-ˌter-ē 
1
a
: of or relating to soldiers, arms, or war
military discipline/life/service
the country's military needs
a military career
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
a military coup
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
CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
The previous two, from 2006 and 2011, had portrayed China as an amoral economic force; the new one emphasized the country’s rising military ambitions.
—Ian Parker, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 21 Dec. 2025
Also Friday, the Israeli military said a Hezbollah operative captured from Lebanon last year played a major role in the group's secretive maritime force.
—Bassem Mroue, Arkansas Online, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for military
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Adjective
The grim discovery comes a week after Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo declared a state of emergency in western Guatemala, a day after armed men attacked a military post and a police station, cut off roads and hijacked buses, killing at least five people, The Associated Press reported.
—CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
The previous two, from 2006 and 2011, had portrayed China as an amoral economic force; the new one emphasized the country’s rising military ambitions.
—Ian Parker, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Noun
At the time, the Israeli military said the strike was targeting Hamas, CNN previously reported.
—Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 21 Dec. 2025
Also Friday, the Israeli military said a Hezbollah operative captured from Lebanon last year played a major role in the group's secretive maritime force.
—Bassem Mroue, Arkansas Online, 20 Dec. 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 23 Dec. 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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