mil·i·tary
ˈmi-lə-ˌter-ē 
1
a
: of or relating to soldiers, arms, or war
military discipline
the country's military needs
b
: of or relating to armed forces
especially
: of or relating to ground or sometimes ground and air forces as opposed to naval forces
military and naval affairs
2
a
: performed or made by armed forces
military operations
b
: supported by armed force
a military government
3
: of or relating to the army
the military academy at West Point
plural military also militaries
1
: military persons
especially
: army officers
2
Synonyms
Examples of military in a Sentence
Adjective
He is being tried in a military court rather than in a civilian court.
He has had a long military career.
Noun
There were many military present but only a few civilians.
some would insist that the military's budget is still inadequate
Recent Examples on the Web
Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
If the pace of developing and adopting military AI weapon and surveillance systems continues accelerating, the end result will be an expensive arsenal of flawed, unreliable and dangerous technologies that don’t work as advertised.
—Roberto J. González, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024
Tehran has routinely accused Israel of attacks and sabotage activities targeting its nuclear and military sites in the past, including in Isfahan.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 19 Apr. 2024
Israel's military and prime minister's office have not yet responded to NPR's request for comment.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 19 Apr. 2024
The West perceives India—because of its size, military, and economic clout—as a crucial partner in efforts to counter China.
—Michael Kugelman, TIME, 19 Apr. 2024
As the Nazis' concentration camp deportation plan unfolded toward the end of 1942, the Jewish resistance initially decided to refrain from military action, under the belief that the Jewish population was being sent to labor camps.
—David Unsworth, Fox News, 19 Apr. 2024
At Stone Rose Law, helping disabled military veterans is their core mission.
—Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
But with more than 33,000 Palestinians killed in Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, according to local health officials, and many more left homeless and suffering from extreme hunger, some argue that U.N. recognition of a Palestinian state is long overdue.
—Michael Levenson, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Peter Aitken, Fox News, 20 Apr. 2024
Sadler was awarded the polar medal, military medal and military cross for his service, and he was remembered as a fearless desert navigator in his obituary in The New York Times.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024
These firms are also doing business with foreign militaries, including Google, whose $1.2 billion contract with the Israeli defense ministry has sparked protests among employees who are appalled by the company’s support for the war in Gaza.
—Roberto J. González, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024
Two Israeli defense officials confirmed that the Israeli military was behind the strike while three Iranian officials had confirmed that a strike hit a military air base near Isfahan.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 19 Apr. 2024
That Hamas fire has all but ceased now that Israel's military controls most of Gaza.
—Deirdre Walsh, NPR, 19 Apr. 2024
Constructed during the late 18th century, the fort was occupied at various times by the French and Swedish militaries.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2024
Eiland said Israel does have the capability to carry out more covert forms of attacks against Iranian territory, which would not involve a kinetic military strike.
—Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2024
The Iranian unmanned vehicles that were directed at Israeli targets have found more success in Ukraine, where the Russian military has used them to wreak havoc on civilian centers.
—The Editors, National Review, 17 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Proceeds benefit local military families and civilian families.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
If the pace of developing and adopting military AI weapon and surveillance systems continues accelerating, the end result will be an expensive arsenal of flawed, unreliable and dangerous technologies that don’t work as advertised.
—Roberto J. González, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024
Tehran has routinely accused Israel of attacks and sabotage activities targeting its nuclear and military sites in the past, including in Isfahan.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 19 Apr. 2024
Israel's military and prime minister's office have not yet responded to NPR's request for comment.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 19 Apr. 2024
The West perceives India—because of its size, military, and economic clout—as a crucial partner in efforts to counter China.
—Michael Kugelman, TIME, 19 Apr. 2024
As the Nazis' concentration camp deportation plan unfolded toward the end of 1942, the Jewish resistance initially decided to refrain from military action, under the belief that the Jewish population was being sent to labor camps.
—David Unsworth, Fox News, 19 Apr. 2024
At Stone Rose Law, helping disabled military veterans is their core mission.
—Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
But with more than 33,000 Palestinians killed in Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, according to local health officials, and many more left homeless and suffering from extreme hunger, some argue that U.N. recognition of a Palestinian state is long overdue.
—Michael Levenson, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Noun
The use of the drones also helps another issue the Ukrainian military has struggled with over the past year: Disproportionate funding that threatens to tip the advantage towards Russia.
—Peter Aitken, Fox News, 20 Apr. 2024
Sadler was awarded the polar medal, military medal and military cross for his service, and he was remembered as a fearless desert navigator in his obituary in The New York Times.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024
These firms are also doing business with foreign militaries, including Google, whose $1.2 billion contract with the Israeli defense ministry has sparked protests among employees who are appalled by the company’s support for the war in Gaza.
—Roberto J. González, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024
Two Israeli defense officials confirmed that the Israeli military was behind the strike while three Iranian officials had confirmed that a strike hit a military air base near Isfahan.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 19 Apr. 2024
That Hamas fire has all but ceased now that Israel's military controls most of Gaza.
—Deirdre Walsh, NPR, 19 Apr. 2024
Constructed during the late 18th century, the fort was occupied at various times by the French and Swedish militaries.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2024
Eiland said Israel does have the capability to carry out more covert forms of attacks against Iranian territory, which would not involve a kinetic military strike.
—Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2024
The Iranian unmanned vehicles that were directed at Israeli targets have found more success in Ukraine, where the Russian military has used them to wreak havoc on civilian centers.
—The Editors, National Review, 17 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'military.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near military
Cite this Entry
“Military.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/military. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
military
1 of 2 adjective
mil·i·tary
ˈmil-ə-ˌter-ē
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of soldiers, arms, or war
military discipline
2
: carried on or supported by armed force
a military government
3
: of or relating to the army
military and naval affairs
military
2 of 2 noun
plural military
1
2
: military persons
especially
: army officers
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