service member
noun
variants
or less commonly servicemember
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
SmithsonianFor 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
Tom KuglinExamples of service member in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Coast Guard would continue maritime security operations, but service members would not receive paychecks.
—Nik Popli, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
As an example, Raskin pointed to the Justice Department’s failed attempt to indict six Democratic lawmakers who urged service members to not comply with unlawful orders in a video posted in November.
—Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
The plaintiffs, who are current and former military members, claimed that Wells Fargo used predatory lending practices to target service members, according to the case filed in March 2024 in the Eastern District of North Carolina.
—Chase Jordan
february 11, Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2026
The lawmakers didn’t refer to any specific orders in their video but reminded service members they are allowed to disobey orders that violate the law.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for service member
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Nik Popli, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
As an example, Raskin pointed to the Justice Department’s failed attempt to indict six Democratic lawmakers who urged service members to not comply with unlawful orders in a video posted in November.
—Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
The plaintiffs, who are current and former military members, claimed that Wells Fargo used predatory lending practices to target service members, according to the case filed in March 2024 in the Eastern District of North Carolina.
—Chase Jordan
february 11, Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2026
The lawmakers didn’t refer to any specific orders in their video but reminded service members they are allowed to disobey orders that violate the law.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for service member
Cite this Entry
“Service member.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/service%20member. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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