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
Chloe Taylor,greg Kennedy, CNBC, 16 Dec. 2025
The Miles Heizer- and Vera Farmiga-starring gay military show, which was the last series from the late, great producer Norman Lear, has been canceled after one season on the streamer, Entertainment Weekly has learned.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Dec. 2025
Arkansas Online, 14 Dec. 2025
The Sudanese military blamed the attack on the Rapid Support Forces, RSF, a notorious paramilitary group at war with the army for control of the country for more than two years.
—CBS News, 13 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for military
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Adjective
Europe’s defense sector has seen a meteoric rise this year, amid the Ukraine war and commitments from regional governments and the NATO military alliance to ramp up defense spending.
—Chloe Taylor,greg Kennedy, CNBC, 16 Dec. 2025
The Miles Heizer- and Vera Farmiga-starring gay military show, which was the last series from the late, great producer Norman Lear, has been canceled after one season on the streamer, Entertainment Weekly has learned.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Dec. 2025
Noun
The Thai military acknowledged 15 of its troops died during the fighting, and estimated earlier last week that there have been 165 fatalities among Cambodian soldiers.
—Arkansas Online, 14 Dec. 2025
The Sudanese military blamed the attack on the Rapid Support Forces, RSF, a notorious paramilitary group at war with the army for control of the country for more than two years.
—CBS News, 13 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 16 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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