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
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
Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Takaichi was expected to raise Japan’s security concerns about Beijing’s military build-up to Trump during his visit.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 28 Oct. 2025
Kathleen Collins, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
In the early days of the conflict, the Ukrainian military was much more agile than Russian forces in terms of adapting tactics and equipment.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for military
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Adjective
And rather than being designed in a Top Secret military facility—literally, Area 51, used for the U-2—at the expense of billions of taxpayer dollars, Planet’s doing it with around six hundred employees and hardly a security clearance in sight.
—Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Takaichi was expected to raise Japan’s security concerns about Beijing’s military build-up to Trump during his visit.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
Insufficient piecemeal sanctions, half-heartedly implemented, allowed Russia’s military to rebuild and grow.
—Kathleen Collins, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
In the early days of the conflict, the Ukrainian military was much more agile than Russian forces in terms of adapting tactics and equipment.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for military
Cite this Entry
“Military.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/military. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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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