Dictionary

militant en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈmɪlɪtənt/

Etymology

From Middle French militant, from Latin mīlitāns, present participle of mīlitāre (“to serve as a soldier”).

Meanings

1. Fighting or disposed to fight; belligerent, warlike.
   • Senior members of Jemaah Islamiyah, the Southeast Asian militant network blamed for the deadly Bali bombings, have announced they are disbanding the group, according to a report by a Jakarta-based think tank on Thursday. 2024 July 5, Reuters, “Militant group blamed for 2002 Bali bombings to be disbanded, say senior leaders”, in CNN, archived from the original on 07 Aug 2024:
   • The upper tiers of the foreign ministry were quick to embrace a militant policy. 2012, Christopher Clark, The Sleepwalkers, Penguin, published 2013, page 394:
2. Aggressively supporting of an idea, group, political or social cause, etc.; adamant, combative.
   • The physiological state is not itself militant against erotic expression. 1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 6:

Forms

Synonyms

warrish

Translations (27)

de militant (warlike, belligerent) · hu harcoló (warlike, belligerent) · uk войовни́чий (warlike, belligerent) · ru вои́нственный (warlike, belligerent) · ms militan (warlike, belligerent) · ru вои́нствующий (warlike, belligerent) · fr militant (warlike, belligerent) · hu harcias (aggressively active or supportive) · de militant (aggressively active or supportive) · ca militant (aggressively active or supportive) · oc militant (aggressively active or supportive) · ru боево́й (warlike, belligerent) · hu harcias (warlike, belligerent) · bg войнствен (warlike, belligerent) · ru боево́й (aggressively active or supportive) · hu militáns (warlike, belligerent) · de kämpferisch (warlike, belligerent) · uk бойови́й (warlike, belligerent) · pa ਲੜਾਕਾ (warlike, belligerent) · ms militan (aggressively active or supportive) · hy մարտնչող (aggressively active or supportive) · bg агресивен (aggressively active or supportive) · cmn 好战的 (warlike, belligerent) · ky согушчул (warlike, belligerent) · es militante (aggressively active or supportive) · hu harcos (warlike, belligerent) · be ваяўні́чы (warlike, belligerent)

militant en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈmɪlɪtənt/

Etymology

From Middle French militant, from Latin mīlitāns, present participle of mīlitāre (“to serve as a soldier”).

Meanings

1. (obsolete) A soldier, a combatant.
2. An entrenched or aggressive adherent to a particular cause, now especially a member of a particular ideological faction.
   • [Jim Owles] lamented the declining influence of militant organizations and tactics, stating that militants "help keep the rest of us honest," and prevent moderates from selling out. 1976 December 11, Thom Willenbecher, quoting Jean O'Leary, “Women's Caucus Quits Gay Academic Union”, in Gay Community News, volume 4, number 24, page 1:
   • Described by witnesses as a keen cricketer and pubgoer until contacts with Islamic militants radicalized him on a trip to Pakistan, he was ordered to serve at least 14 years for the plot, and for supplying militants in Afghanistan with money and equipment. 2008 February 19, John F. Burns, “Britain: Life Sentence in Beheading Plot”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 26 Nov 2022:
   • Officials in Pakistan have confirmed that at least 250 schoolchildren between 12 and 18 years old and several teachers were taken hostage by at least seven militants inside a high school in Domail. 2008, Militants in Pakistan release 250 schoolchildren after taking them hostage, Wikinews:
3. (specifically) Someone who supports the Trotskyist political view expressed in the newspaper Militant.

Forms

Deriveds

militantly · hypermilitant · supermilitant · unmilitant · militantism · nonmilitant · ultramilitant · Militant Tendency · antimilitant · militantness

Relateds

military · militia · militance

Translations (20)

ru троцки́ст (one who supports a Trotskyite political view) · uk міліта́нт (aggressive adherent) · yi מיליטאַנט (aggressive adherent) · ru боеви́к (aggressive adherent) · bg троцкист (one who supports a Trotskyite political view) · hu harcos (aggressive adherent) · be баяві́к (aggressive adherent) · ar مُحَارِب (aggressive adherent) · az yaraqlı (aggressive adherent) · uk бойови́к (aggressive adherent) · pa ਜੋਧਾ (aggressive adherent) · pa ਖਾੜਕੂ (aggressive adherent) · ru троцки́стка (one who supports a Trotskyite political view) · pa ਯੋਧਾ (aggressive adherent) · ru милита́нт (aggressive adherent) · ar مُنَاضِل (aggressive adherent) · mi kaiwhakatūtū (aggressive adherent) · ar مُكَافِح (aggressive adherent) · ar مِغْوَار (aggressive adherent) · ar مُقَاتِل (aggressive adherent)