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

The amphitheater holding Christ’s holy militia looks like a gigantic rose. —Mary Jo Bang july 9, Literary Hub, 9 July 2025

Two months later, on June 14, 1775, the Continental Congress founded the Continental Army, replacing the militia with an official fighting force with Washington as its leader. —Lisa Gutierrez july 3, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2025

Simultaneously, as of yesterday, ICE is attacking the town of Huron, with armed militia surrounding homes. —Roxanne Robinson, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025

Historians say white lawmakers in the post-war South sought to enshrine their ability to keep Black men from voting by barring federal forces from bolstering the local militias that protected them. —Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, military service, from milit-, miles

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Rhymes for militia

• adventitia
• vicia

Kids 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