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

The Iranian proxy group Hezbollah is a militia and political party in Lebanon. —Seyed Rahim Bathaei, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026

Israel has provided the militia and its allies with weapons, funds and logistical support, in an attempt to promote the Popular Forces as an alternative governing body to Hamas. —Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026

Ballistic missile technology and Iran’s proxy support for regional militias were not included in the original agreement due to Iran’s unwillingness to include those measures. —Nina Srinivasan Rathbun, The Conversation, 17 Feb. 2026

And even where the messages were received, would enough of the minutemen and the militia indeed respond quickly enough? —Kostya Kennedy, Time, 16 Feb. 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