militia

noun

mi·​li·​tia mə-ˈli-shə 

plural militias

1

a

: a part of the organized armed forces of a country liable to call only in emergency

The militia was called to quell the riot.

b

: a body of citizens organized for military service

2

: the whole body of able-bodied male citizens declared by law as being subject to call to military service

3

: a private group of armed individuals that operates as a paramilitary force and is typically motivated by a political or religious ideology

specifically : such a group that aims to defend individual rights against government authority that is perceived as oppressive

Examples of militia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After the fall of Tripoli, Saif al-Islam Gadhafi evaded capture for several months before being detained in November 2011 by a militia in the western Libyan city of Zintan. —Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026

Under the Constitution, the concept of a militia is a specific and narrowly circumscribed one. —Larry Pino, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026

Not so long ago, Ammon Bundy was the most famous right-wing militia leader in America. —Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 1 Feb. 2026

Another project led by ExxonMobil was also paused five years ago, but is now slated to begin construction after a deployment of Rwandan soldiers weakened the militias. —semafor.com, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin, military service, from milit-, miles

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Rhymes for militia

• adventitia
• vicia

Kids Definition

militia

noun

mi·​li·​tia mə-ˈlish-ə 

: a body of citizens with some military training who are called to active duty only in an emergency