soldier

1 of 2

noun

sol·​dier ˈsōl-jər 

1

a

: one engaged in military service and especially in the army

b

: an enlisted man or woman

c

: a skilled warrior

2

: a militant leader, follower, or worker

3

a

: one of a caste of wingless sterile termites usually differing from workers in larger size and head and long jaws

b

: one of a type of worker ants distinguished by exceptionally large head and jaws

4

ˈsō-jər 

ˈsōl-

: one who shirks work

soldierly

ˈsōl-jər-lē 

adjective or adverb

soldiership

ˈsōl-jər-ˌship 

noun

soldier

2 of 2

verb

soldiered; soldiering ˈsōl-jə-riŋ 

ˈsōlj-riŋ

intransitive verb

1

a

: to serve as a soldier

b

: to behave in a soldierly manner

c

: to push doggedly forward

—usually used with on

soldiered on to the end

2

: to make a pretense of working while really loafing

Synonyms

Noun

• dogface
• fighter
• legionary
• legionnaire
• man-at-arms
• regular
• serviceman
• trooper
• warrior

Examples of soldier in a Sentence

Noun

Many soldiers were wounded in combat.

one of the goals of war is to keep as many soldiers as possible from being killed

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

On June 6, 1944, more than 160,000 American, British and Canadian soldiers arrived on a 50-mile stretch of France’s coastline in what was the largest amphibious attack in history. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Dec. 2024

But the few tanks the brigade still has left are going out fighting, engaging Russian paratroopers and marines—and potentially North Korean soldiers—along the edge of the 250-square-mile salient Ukrainian forces carved out of Kursk Oblast in western Russia back in August. —David Axe, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024

Verb

The festival initially planned on soldiering through the weather Friday, as the lots were opened in anticipation of the fest that afternoon. —Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2024

Where some wilted in the face of so much public scrutiny, however, Taylor soldiered bravely on. —Rob Ledonne, Vogue, 3 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English soudeour, from Anglo-French soudeer, soudeour mercenary, from soudee shilling's worth, wage, from sou, soud shilling, from Late Latin solidus solidus

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing soldier

• buffalo soldier
• foot soldier
• soldier of fortune
• soldier on
• soldier's medal

Kids Definition

soldier

1 of 2 noun

sol·​dier ˈsōl-jər 

1

a

: a person in military service and especially in the army

b

: an enlisted person

2

: a worker in something strongly believed in

3

: a termite or ant with a large head and jaws that is a member of a caste that protects the colony

soldierly adjective

soldier

2 of 2 verb

soldiered; soldiering ˌsōlj-(ə-)riŋ 

: to serve as or act like a soldier