militarize

verb

mil·​i·​ta·​rize ˈmi-lə-tə-ˌrīz How to pronounce militarize (audio)
militarized; militarizing

transitive verb

1
: to give a military character to
2
: to equip with military forces and defenses
3
: to adapt for military use
militarization noun

Examples of militarize in a Sentence

militarize a country's foreign policy
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
All while militarizing the countries around Iran, Russia, and China in a vain attempt to get those governments to calm down. Connor Okeeffe, Orange County Register, 17 Oct. 2024 Lisa Curtis, an Asia policy expert at the Center for a New American Security, who previously worked at the White House, CIA and State Department, said India, which is not part of any military alliance, has been worried about perceptions that the Quad could be militarizing the Indo-Pacific. USA TODAY, 21 Sep. 2024 Since then, Russia has militarized its economy, prepared for a long war, managed to recruit hordes of soldiers, and produced large stockpiles of equipment. Andriy Zagorodnyuk, Foreign Affairs, 21 May 2024 Trump, Harris' rival for the White House, has pledged to reinstate his hardline asylum policies, militarize the southern border and launch the largest deportation operation in American history. Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 4 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for militarize 

Word History

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of militarize was in 1856

Dictionary Entries Near militarize

Cite this Entry

“Militarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/militarize. Accessed 18 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

militarize

verb
mil·​i·​ta·​rize ˈmil-ə-tə-ˌrīz How to pronounce militarize (audio)
militarized; militarizing
1
: to equip with military forces and defenses
2
: to give a military character to
militarization noun

More from Merriam-Webster on militarize

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!