soldier

play

noun sol·dier \ˈsōl-jər\

Definition of soldier

1a : one engaged in military service and especially in the armyb : an enlisted man or womanc : a skilled warrior
2 : a militant leader, follower, or worker
3a : one of a caste of wingless sterile termites usually differing from workers in larger size and head and long jawsb : one of a type of worker ants distinguished by exceptionally large head and jaws
4\ˈsō-jər, ˈsōl-\ : one who shirks work

soldierly

play \ˈsōl-jər-lē\ adjective or adverb

soldiership

play \ˈsōl-jər-ˌship\ noun

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Examples of soldier in a Sentence

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 of soldier from the Web

Typically, these cycles start with an attack on Indian soldiers in Kashmir by infiltrators from Pakistan, triggering Indian artillery strikes, which prod the Pakistanis to respond in kind.

— The Economist, "Hissing cousinsWhy India and Pakistan hate each other," 22 July 2017
When Morrison turned 15, his mother met a soldier at Fort Knox and got remarried.

— kristina goetz, The Courier-Journal, "Orphans come back to ‘The Home’ that took them in when no one else could," 20 July 2017
Aberdeen Proving Ground, which is Harford County's largest employer, has a population of soldiers and civilian workers that fluctuates between 18,000 and 22,000.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "Havre de Grace council makes exception, approves application for APG event in Hutchins Park tent," 20 July 2017
Previously, rhabdo, as it is known in medical circles, was primarily seen in soldiers, firefighters, and athletes, people whose work is physically demanding.

— madeleine aggeler, The Cut, "The Terrifying Condition Caused by ‘Extreme Exercise’," 18 July 2017
Even if, in the context of the show, the song *isn’t * meant to insult either of the Lannister brothers, Ed and his companions are not exactly patriotic soldiers.

— vanityfair.com, "Game of Thrones," 16 July 2017
Most of us—you amazing firefighters and heroic soldiers excepted—

— cindi leive, Glamour, "Letter From the Editor: You're Braver Than You Think," 11 July 2017
The citation with his medal describes the soldier’s actions during a 2007 ambush of his unit in the deadly Korengal Valley.

— jeanette steele, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Afghanistan Medal of Honor soldier gives his award to former brigade," 7 July 2017
William H. Pate drew a short straw in life — born in Mississippi in 1845, dead at 16 during the harsh winter of 1861-62 with hundreds of other Confederate soldiers stationed at a Rebel camp in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

— james bruggers, The Courier-Journal, "Scientist asks Gov. Bevin for help to exhume Confederate soldier in Hopkinsville casket," 6 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'soldier.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of soldier

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

soldier

verb sol·dier

Definition of soldier

soldiered

;

soldiering

play \ˈsōl-jə-riŋ, ˈsōlj-riŋ\

intransitive verb
1a : to serve as a soldierb : to behave in a soldierly mannerc : to push doggedly forward —usually used with on soldiered on to the end
2 : to make a pretense of working while really loafing