militia
noun
mi·li·tia
mə-ˈli-shə 
plural militias
1
a
: a part of the organized armed forces of a country liable to call only in emergency
The militia was called to quell the riot.
b
: a body of citizens organized for military service
2
: the whole body of able-bodied male citizens declared by law as being subject to call to military service
3
: a private group of armed individuals that operates as a paramilitary force and is typically motivated by a political or religious ideology
specifically
: such a group that aims to defend individual rights against government authority that is perceived as oppressive
Examples of militia in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Sayyida Zeinab area, often targeted during the war, was a stronghold for Hezbollah and other militias allied with his regime.
—
Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
In Lebanon, thousands of Israeli airstrikes have wiped out the leadership of Hezbollah, the crown jewel of the axis, and severely damaged the Shiite militia’s military capacity.
—Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Dec. 2024
Turkey is also the sole sponsor of another Syrian militia, under the misleading name Syrian National Army, which has worked for years to contain the Kurds.
—David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2024
Shiite militias from Iraq and Syria launched rockets and drones to disrupt Israel’s advanced air defense systems, but these efforts posed no significant threat to them.
—Amos Yadlin, Foreign Affairs, 17 Dec. 2024
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Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
In Lebanon, thousands of Israeli airstrikes have wiped out the leadership of Hezbollah, the crown jewel of the axis, and severely damaged the Shiite militia’s military capacity.
—Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Dec. 2024
Turkey is also the sole sponsor of another Syrian militia, under the misleading name Syrian National Army, which has worked for years to contain the Kurds.
—David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2024
Shiite militias from Iraq and Syria launched rockets and drones to disrupt Israel’s advanced air defense systems, but these efforts posed no significant threat to them.
—Amos Yadlin, Foreign Affairs, 17 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for militia
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Cite this Entry
“Militia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/militia. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
militia
noun
mi·li·tia
mə-ˈlish-ə
: a body of citizens with some military training who are called to active duty only in an emergency
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