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

Some analysts reported that Tehran has begun preparing an armed response from the IRGC and even some of its proxy militias in Iraq. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 8 Jan. 2026

Trump’s Venezuela oil plan faces steep security and economic questions, as experts warn of militia groups endangering workers and questionable returns. —Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 8 Jan. 2026

By providing only air cover for the rebels, our intervention left the situation on the ground to the local competing forces, tribes and militias, which were divided then and remain divided to this day. —Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026

Take, for instance, President George Washington in 1794, who used the army and state militias to crush the Whiskey Rebellion. —Douglas Letter, Time, 6 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