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
Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024
What To Know The U.K.'s military aid package for Ukraine includes £92 million ($116 million) allocated for equipment meant to bolster Ukraine's navy, comprising small boats, reconnaissance drones, uncrewed surface vessels, loitering munitions, and mine countermeasure drones.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Greg Myre, NPR, 8 Dec. 2024
The chaos could spill into neighboring Lebanon and Iraq, and no amount of military might can fully insulate Israel from the ripple effects of a fractured Syria.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for military 
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Adjective
The Pentagon is also likely to pause military recruitment and operational planning.
—Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024
What To Know The U.K.'s military aid package for Ukraine includes £92 million ($116 million) allocated for equipment meant to bolster Ukraine's navy, comprising small boats, reconnaissance drones, uncrewed surface vessels, loitering munitions, and mine countermeasure drones.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Noun
Hundreds of thousands of Syrians were killed, many of them civilians, and mostly by the Syrian military.
—Greg Myre, NPR, 8 Dec. 2024
The chaos could spill into neighboring Lebanon and Iraq, and no amount of military might can fully insulate Israel from the ripple effects of a fractured Syria.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for military
Dictionary Entries Near military
Cite this Entry
“Military.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/military. Accessed 22 Dec. 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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