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
At first Gabriel is very happy on the ranch, living with their care pod, but as tensions are ratcheted up with a local militia, they’re increasingly exposed to violence and trauma.
—
Ilana Masad, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
Last year, the U.S. shuttered a military base in Niger that was considered a crucial hub for American counterterrorism operations after the governing militia there asked the U.S. to leave and welcomed Russian troops instead.
—Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 29 May 2025
The investigation resulted in the charging of over a dozen people linked with a local right-wing militia group, the Wolverine Watchmen.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 29 May 2025
Prosecutors said Fox and Croft led other men associated with a militia group called Wolverine Watchmen to kidnap Whitmer before the 2020 election.
—Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for militia
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Ilana Masad, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
Last year, the U.S. shuttered a military base in Niger that was considered a crucial hub for American counterterrorism operations after the governing militia there asked the U.S. to leave and welcomed Russian troops instead.
—Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 29 May 2025
The investigation resulted in the charging of over a dozen people linked with a local right-wing militia group, the Wolverine Watchmen.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 29 May 2025
Prosecutors said Fox and Croft led other men associated with a militia group called Wolverine Watchmen to kidnap Whitmer before the 2020 election.
—Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 28 May 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 6 Jun. 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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