militant

[ mil-i-tuhnt ]
See synonyms for militant on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. aggressively active or combative in support of a cause: militant reformers.

  2. engaged in warfare; fighting.

noun
  1. a militant person.

  2. a person engaged in warfare or combat.

Origin of militant

1
First recorded in 1400–1450; late Middle English, from Latin mīlitant- (stem of mīlitāns ), present participle of mīlitāre “to serve as a soldier”; see militate, -ant

synonym study For militant

1. See fanatic.

Other words for militant

Other words from militant

  • mil·i·tan·cy, mil·i·tant·ness, noun
  • mil·i·tant·ly, adverb
  • hy·per·mil·i·tant, adjective
  • hy·per·mil·i·tant·ly, adverb
  • non·mil·i·tant, adjective, noun
  • non·mil·i·tant·ly, adverb
  • su·per·mil·i·tant, adjective
  • ul·tra·mil·i·tant, adjective
  • un·mil·i·tant, adjective
  • un·mil·i·tant·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use militant in a sentence

  • In a brief year Punch was thoroughly estranged by the methods of the militants and their harrying of Ministers.

  • War and love were alike, and the world was prepared to forgive any guile to militants in either camp.

    The Small House at Allington | Anthony Trollope
  • Now that he had escaped the clutches of the irate militants of Yimville, it wasn't such a bad predicament after all.

    Mixed Faces | Roy Norton
  • He discussed the four alternative methods proposed of treating the militants.

  • The militants, he declared, lived only by the subscriptions of rich women, who paid their tools 30s.

British Dictionary definitions for militant (1 of 2)

militant

/ (ˈmɪlɪtənt) /


adjective
  1. aggressive or vigorous, esp in the support of a cause: a militant protest

  2. warring; engaged in warfare

noun
  1. a militant person

Origin of militant

1
C15: from Latin mīlitāre to be a soldier, from mīles soldier

Derived forms of militant

  • militancy or rare militantness, noun
  • militantly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for Militant (2 of 2)

Militant

/ (ˈmɪlɪtənt) /


noun
  1. a member of Militant Tendency

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012