martial

adjective

mar·​tial ˈmär-shəl How to pronounce martial (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or suited for war or a warrior
martial music
a martial tone of voiceTim Appelo
martial prowess
2
: relating to an army or to military life
martial discipline
stories of martial traditionEwen Macaskill
3
: experienced in or inclined to war : warlike
its martial people fought the British to a standstillMary Anne Weaver
martially adverb

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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.

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Soon, the brothers confront each other in a tense, martial dance that brings them face to face over their dead father’s body. Jennifer Homans, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025 That win was the last Lee registered as a professional mixed martial artist. Brian Mazique, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025 Further, McKinley didn’t display the kind of expansionist zeal or martial fervor that would correspond to Trump’s call for the U.S. acquisition of Greenland, for example, or his resolve to take back the Panama Canal and secure the wrecked land of Gaza. Robert W. Merry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025 That neutral, lightly armed Ireland is now supplying Ukraine with critical military equipment alongside Ukraine’s more martial allies is telling. David Axe, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for martial

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of martial was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Martial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/martial. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

martial

adjective
mar·​tial ˈmär-shəl How to pronounce martial (audio)
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 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 How to pronounce Martial (audio)
circa a.d. 40–circa 103 Marcus Valerius Martialis Roman epigrammatist

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