# martial

/ˈmɑɹʃəɫ/ (US) · /mˈɑːʃəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/martial
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. military or warlike

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

relating to war, the military, or soldiers.

For teachers: relating to or suggestive of war, the armed forces, or the profession of arms.

- The country has a long martial history with many famous battles.
- The parade was a display of martial discipline, with thousands of soldiers marching in perfect synchronisation past the viewing stand.

Usage: Often used to describe music, law, or history related to the military.

### 2. fighting arts

adjective · CEFR B1

used to describe traditional sports or skills used for fighting, like karate or judo.

For teachers: denoting various traditional systems of combat and self-defence, typically of East Asian origin.

- She has been practicing martial arts since she was six years old.
- The community centre offers classes in various martial arts, including judo, karate, and taekwondo, for students of all ages.

Usage: Almost exclusively used in the plural phrase 'martial arts'.

### 3. relating to Mars

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

related to the planet Mars.

For teachers: pertaining to the planet Mars; historically used in alchemy to refer to iron.

- Ancient books sometimes used martial symbols to represent the metal iron.
- In older astronomical texts, martial observations referred specifically to the movements and perceived influences of the red planet.

Teaching tip: In modern English, 'Martian' has almost entirely replaced 'martial' for planetary references.

## Examples

- The country has a long history of martial traditions.
- The government declared martial law to restore order after the protests turned violent.
- The rhythmic, martial beat of the drums signaled the start of the parade, echoing the regimented precision of the soldiers marching in unison.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.