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
Syria’s current government has in some cases released Assadist figures accused of massacres and appointed former militia leaders accused of crimes against civilians to high ranks in the new army.
—
Robin Yassin-Kassab, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
But in a region being fought over by a patchwork of anti-junta rebel groups, the military and pro-military militia – and given the widespread distrust of the Rohingya – information on where exactly his family are, or what will become of them, has not been forthcoming.
—Esha Mitra, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
Ukraine purchased the Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drone system, developed for use against Kurdish militias in Iraq and Syria.
—Joseph Nepomuceno, The Washington Examiner, 13 Sep. 2025
In New York and New Jersey, patriot militias, loyalist partisans and British regulars raided across county lines, targeting farms and neighbors.
—Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for militia
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Robin Yassin-Kassab, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
But in a region being fought over by a patchwork of anti-junta rebel groups, the military and pro-military militia – and given the widespread distrust of the Rohingya – information on where exactly his family are, or what will become of them, has not been forthcoming.
—Esha Mitra, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
Ukraine purchased the Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drone system, developed for use against Kurdish militias in Iraq and Syria.
—Joseph Nepomuceno, The Washington Examiner, 13 Sep. 2025
In New York and New Jersey, patriot militias, loyalist partisans and British regulars raided across county lines, targeting farms and neighbors.
—Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for militia
Cite this Entry
“Militia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/militia. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
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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