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
There’s raiders defiling small communities, the remnants of governmental and military organizations (like the show’s Brotherhood of Steel) vying for control of technology and the ideological support of the masses, and small militias just looking to protect their homestead.
—
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2024
In addition, Mohammad Zahedi, one of the generals killed in the April 1 attack, was directly responsible for managing relationships with Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Syrian government and Shia militias in that country, and Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza and the West Bank.
—Javed Ali, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2024
Instead, the film features conversations with militia members, reporters and others such as a West Virginia woman with five kids who travels to Michigan for a Trump rally to sell COVID-19 masks featuring the campaign's logo.
—Detroit Free Press, 6 Apr. 2024
While the motive for the apparent attack is not yet known, researchers found the man detained in the case had likely posted conspiracy theories and talked about joining a militia online.
—Will Carless, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
After previous Israeli attacks on Iranian targets in Syria before the Gaza war, Iran chose to retaliate against U.S. troops through its militia forces in Iraq and Syria.
—Dalia Dassa Kaye, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2024
Ten days later, a U.S. Special Operations retaliatory drone strike in Baghdad killed a senior leader of a militia that American officials blame for the attacks on American personnel.
—Michael Levenson, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024
On April 19, 1861, the National Volunteers, a pro-Southern Democratic militia organized in Baltimore and Washington in response to the Wide Awakes, attacked Massachusetts troops marching through Baltimore, killing several.
—Jon Grinspan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024
Rhodes wanted Trump to take advantage of old language in the law that mentions militias and to deploy his far-right Oath Keepers group to keep Trump in power.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 28 Mar. 2024
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2024
In addition, Mohammad Zahedi, one of the generals killed in the April 1 attack, was directly responsible for managing relationships with Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Syrian government and Shia militias in that country, and Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza and the West Bank.
—Javed Ali, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2024
Instead, the film features conversations with militia members, reporters and others such as a West Virginia woman with five kids who travels to Michigan for a Trump rally to sell COVID-19 masks featuring the campaign's logo.
—Detroit Free Press, 6 Apr. 2024
While the motive for the apparent attack is not yet known, researchers found the man detained in the case had likely posted conspiracy theories and talked about joining a militia online.
—Will Carless, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
After previous Israeli attacks on Iranian targets in Syria before the Gaza war, Iran chose to retaliate against U.S. troops through its militia forces in Iraq and Syria.
—Dalia Dassa Kaye, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2024
Ten days later, a U.S. Special Operations retaliatory drone strike in Baghdad killed a senior leader of a militia that American officials blame for the attacks on American personnel.
—Michael Levenson, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024
On April 19, 1861, the National Volunteers, a pro-Southern Democratic militia organized in Baltimore and Washington in response to the Wide Awakes, attacked Massachusetts troops marching through Baltimore, killing several.
—Jon Grinspan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024
Rhodes wanted Trump to take advantage of old language in the law that mentions militias and to deploy his far-right Oath Keepers group to keep Trump in power.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'militia.' 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 militia
Cite this Entry
“Militia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/militia. Accessed 19 Apr. 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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