soldier

1 of 2

noun

sol·​dier ˈsōl-jər 

1

a

: one engaged in military service and especially in the army

b

: an enlisted man or woman

c

: a skilled warrior

2

: a militant leader, follower, or worker

3

a

: one of a caste of wingless sterile termites usually differing from workers in larger size and head and long jaws

b

: one of a type of worker ants distinguished by exceptionally large head and jaws

4

ˈsō-jər 

ˈsōl-

: one who shirks work

soldierly

ˈsōl-jər-lē 

adjective or adverb

soldiership

ˈsōl-jər-ˌship 

noun

soldier

2 of 2

verb

soldiered; soldiering ˈsōl-jə-riŋ 

ˈsōlj-riŋ

intransitive verb

1

a

: to serve as a soldier

b

: to behave in a soldierly manner

c

: to push doggedly forward

—usually used with on

soldiered on to the end

2

: to make a pretense of working while really loafing

Synonyms of soldier

Noun

• warrior
• fighter

Examples of soldier in a Sentence

Noun

Many soldiers were wounded in combat.

one of the goals of war is to keep as many soldiers as possible from being killed

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Devout Catholic soldiers in blue coats and knee-breeches make the sign of the cross, invoking divine protection while performing this dangerous task. — Tracey Teo, AJC.com, 24 Sep. 2026

The most famous photograph of the early Second World War is of a Frenchman weeping at the sight of Nazi soldiers parading through the streets of Marseilles in 1940. — Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 24 Sep. 2026

Verb

The fair soldiered forth despite Israeli airstrikes in Doha the previous September, part of Israel and the US’s ongoing war on Iran. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Sac State players and coaches appreciated the grit of quarterback Carson Conklin, who suffered a wrist injury in the first half and soldiered his way to the end, completing 25 of 46 passes for 221 yards. — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English soudeour, from Anglo-French soudeer, soudeour mercenary, from soudee shilling's worth, wage, from sou, soud shilling, from Late Latin solidus solidus

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing soldier

• buffalo soldier
• foot soldier
• soldier of fortune
• soldier on
• soldier's medal

Kids Definition

soldier

1 of 2 noun

sol·​dier ˈsōl-jər 

1

a

: a person in military service and especially in the army

b

: an enlisted person

2

: a worker in something strongly believed in

3

: a termite or ant with a large head and jaws that is a member of a caste that protects the colony

soldierly adjective

soldier

2 of 2 verb

soldiered; soldiering ˌsōlj-(ə-)riŋ 

: to serve as or act like a soldier