1
a
: one engaged in military service and especially in the army
b
: an enlisted man or woman
c
: a skilled warrior
2
: a militant leader, follower, or worker
3
a
: one of a caste of wingless sterile termites usually differing from workers in larger size and head and long jaws
b
: one of a type of worker ants distinguished by exceptionally large head and jaws
4
ˈsō-jər 
ˈsōl-
: one who shirks work
soldiered; soldiering
ˈsōl-jə-riŋ
ˈsōlj-riŋ
1
a
: to serve as a soldier
b
: to behave in a soldierly manner
c
: to push doggedly forward
—usually used with on
soldiered on to the end
2
: to make a pretense of working while really loafing
Examples of soldier in a Sentence
Noun
Many soldiers were wounded in combat.
one of the goals of war is to keep as many soldiers as possible from being killed
Recent Examples on the Web
Antón Barba-Kay, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2025
Three Indian army officials said that Pakistani soldiers used small arms to fire at an Indian position in Kashmir late Thursday.
—Time, 25 Apr. 2025
Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Or a tearful Villanova piccolo player soldiering through in the wake of a loss.
—Joe Rexrode, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for soldier
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Noun
Just outside our car, soldiers beat down the door of a house and piled in.
—Antón Barba-Kay, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2025
Three Indian army officials said that Pakistani soldiers used small arms to fire at an Indian position in Kashmir late Thursday.
—Time, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
Beginning sometime in late February, Domi began taking part in the post-practice skills sessions John Tavares had been soldiering his way through all season with Patrick O’Sullivan, the former NHLer and current Leafs development coach.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Or a tearful Villanova piccolo player soldiering through in the wake of a loss.
—Joe Rexrode, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for soldier
Cite this Entry
“Soldier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soldier. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
soldier
1 of 2 noun
sol·dier
ˈsōl-jər
1
a
: a person in military service and especially in the army
b
: an enlisted person
2
: a worker in something strongly believed in
3
: a termite or ant with a large head and jaws that is a member of a caste that protects the colony
soldierly
adjective
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