militia

Definition of militianext
as in battalion
a group of people who are not part of the armed forces of a country but are trained like soldiers Local militia were an important part of American forces during the Revolutionary War.

Related Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of militia Sybil’s father, Henry, was a militia officer in command of a company of 400 men. Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Apr. 2026 The episode prompted scandal on the political right, which accused Democrats of fueling terrorism through the funding of Iran’s proxy militias. Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026 The previous round of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, in 2023–24, devastated the militia, destroyed much of its missile and drone arsenal, and killed most of its senior battlefield commanders and political leaders. Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026 During the Civil War, Southern California had its own pro-Confederacy secessionist militia, the Los Angeles Mounted Rifles. Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for militia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for militia
Noun
  • The military site at Kapciamiestis covering some 14,600 hectares will allow battalion and brigade-size drills on the ground at a critical land link used by the alliance to send reinforcements to its eastern flank.
    Milda Seputyte, Bloomberg, 23 Apr. 2026
  • In the letter read out to lawmakers of the Central African country on Monday, Chadian President Mahamat Déby Itno said two battalions of 750 troops each will be deployed from this month for one year, following a request by the United Nations.
    ABC News, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • With his expertise, von Steuben completely reorganized the army and boosted morale.
    Amanda Rosa Updated April 28, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Ukraine has developed cutting-edge and battle-tested drone technology that has proved essential in holding back Russia’s bigger army and has drawn military interest from around the world.
    ABC News, ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Nataliia had gone to the bus station, where soldiers were spraying foam to contain the nuclear fallout, and to the hospital, where men in white coats were unloading victims on stretchers from the backs of ambulances.
    Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Kozak said workers slept on floors and desks, with Russian soldiers occupying key areas.
    Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Chernobyl, once a popular tourist destination, has been closed to most visitors since Russian troops, crossing into Ukraine from Belarus, briefly occupied the plant four years ago.
    Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Some 900 people died in the war, including 649 Argentines, 255 British troops and three civilian islanders.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 25 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Militia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/militia. Accessed 3 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on militia

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster