aggressive or vigorous, esp in the support of a cause warring; engaged in warfare
a militant person
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
mil•i•tant /ˈmɪlɪtənt/USA pronunciation
adj.
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- strongly aggressive and often combative, esp. in support of a cause:militant reformers.
- engaged in warfare;
fighting.
n. [countable]
- a militant person:Militants staged violent demonstrations.
mil•i•tant
(mil′i tənt),USA pronunciation adj.
n.
mil′i•tan•cy, mil′i•tant•ness, n.
mil′i•tant•ly, adv.
- vigorously active and aggressive, esp. in support of a cause:militant reformers.
- engaged in warfare;
fighting.
n.
- a militant person.
- a person engaged in warfare or combat.
- Latin mīlitant- (stem of mīlitāns), present participle of mīlitāre to serve as a soldier. See militate, -ant
- late Middle English 1375–1425
mil′i•tant•ly, adv.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged belligerent, combative, contentious. See fanatic.
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