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

Under military law, service members are obligated to obey lawful orders, but to disobey unlawful orders. —Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025

All non-essential services have been suspended and several hundred thousand federal employees and active-duty service members will work without pay. —The Npr Network, NPR, 6 Oct. 2025

Having female service members with the male combat troops allowed the military to speak to female civilians to get information or to provide help. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2025

Namely, the service members in the closet who may now feel forced to remain there. —Arman Khan, Them., 3 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for service member

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