service member

noun

variants or less commonly servicemember

ˈsər-vəs-ˌmem-bər 

plural service members also servicemembers

: a person who is a member of the armed forces

Once Federal Judge Martin Barash administered the oath of allegiance and spoke about their new responsibilities and privileges, he singled out each service member by name (the only new citizens offered this recognition), and the crowd responded with standing ovations.

—Smithsonian

For three-quarters of a century, East Helena has proudly honored servicemembers with a monument in the heart of town. And now community leaders are looking for names of area veterans as they rebuild the monument with a new design.

—Tom Kuglin

Examples of service member in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This is essential to regain our global influence, end unnecessary risks to our service members and ensure our government can address Americans’ needs at home. — Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 13 Nov. 2026

Military discipline depends on service members carrying out their responsibilities without having to calculate whether the person involved is too powerful to correct. — Anna Rahmanan, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2026

Some insurers also offer premium reductions for service members who park their vehicles on base or store them during deployment. — Carson Brunson, CNBC, 13 Nov. 2026

Rather than simply investigating the deportation of veterans and military families, Democrats should advance legislation giving legal status to the families of service members and challenge Republicans to oppose it. — Andrea R. Flores, Time, 13 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for service member

• crewmember
• december
• dismember
• nonmember
• november
• remember
• september
• ember