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

Those findings affect the survivor benefits for which service members' families are eligible. — Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026

In my assessment, Hegseth is building a military that fits a narrow ideological view at the cost of its service members’ safety and well-being. — Jeremiah Favara, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026

The new guidance clarifies that the mandatory testing initially would apply to only male service members. — Konstantin Toropin, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

The Pentagon has rolled out formal guidance for mandatory testosterone testing for male service members 30 and older, a policy that leaves out women for now and faces questions from medical experts about the need and efficacy of such a program. — ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for service member

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