martial

adjective

mar·​tial ˈmär-shəl 

1

: of, relating to, or suited for war or a warrior

martial music

a martial tone of voice

—Tim Appelo

martial prowess

2

: relating to an army or to military life

martial discipline

stories of martial tradition

—Ewen Macaskill

3

: experienced in or inclined to war : warlike

its martial people fought the British to a standstill

—Mary Anne Weaver

martially

ˈmär-shə-lē 

adverb

Did you know?

Martial and Roman Mythology

Mars was the Roman god of war and one of the patron gods of Rome itself. He was responsible for everything military, from warriors to weapons to marching music. Thus, martial arts are skills of combat and self-defense also practiced as sport. When martial law is declared, a country's armed forces take over the functions of the police. And a court-martial is a military court or trial.

Synonyms

• military
• soldierly

Examples of martial in a Sentence

the marching band played “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and several other martial airs

one of the basic tenets of martial law

Recent Examples on the Web

The all-encompassing episode called upon Sawai’s strengths as a martial artist, bilingual woman and actor of uncommon subtlety. —Jake Kring-Schreifels, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024

Cordeiro, a former mixed martial artist and Muay Thai champion, earned Coach of the Year awards in 2012 and 2016. —Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024

Popular on Variety Veteran performer, martial artist and director Sammo Hung was given a lifetime achievement award. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 15 Apr. 2024

Waring imposed martial discipline on the remaining workers, many of whom were poor Italian immigrants. —Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024

Hostilities ceased, but the trench coat entered civilian life with much of its martial DNA intact. —Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2024

Rousey is a former judoka and mixed martial artist who became a professional wrestler and actress. —Abc News, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2024

Up next, the filmmaker is hoping to finally get his long-gestating Bruce Lee film off the ground, a movie that the martial artist’s widow and his daughter brought to the filmmaker years ago. —Jenelle Riley, Variety, 1 Apr. 2024

Swayze's version of Dalton was a martial artist, but there was no UFC in 1989. —Brian Mazique, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin martialis of Mars, from Mart-, Mars

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing martial

• court-martial
• drumhead court-martial
• martial art
• martial law
• mixed martial arts

Kids Definition

martial

adjective

mar·​tial ˈmär-shəl 

1

: of, relating to, or suited for war or a warrior

martial music

2

: of or relating to an army or to military life

martial discipline

martially

-shə-lē 

adverb

Etymology

Middle English martial "relating to or suited for war," from Latin martialis "of Mars," from Mars "god of war"

Biographical Definition

Martial

biographical name

Mar·​tial ˈmär-shəl 

circa a.d. 40–circa 103 Marcus Valerius Martialis Roman epigrammatist