# militarism

/ˈmɪɫətɝˌɪzəm/ (US) · /mˈɪlɪtəɹˌɪzəm/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/militarism
Updated: 2026-05-26

## Definition

the belief that a country should have a very strong and powerful army. It often means that the government spends a lot of money on weapons and prepares for war.

For teachers: the belief in the importance of a professional military and the maintenance of a strong army. Often involves the aggressive use of military power to achieve political goals.

## Examples

- The country's focus on militarism led to a large increase in taxes.
- Historians often debate how much the rise of militarism contributed to the outbreak of the global conflict.
- The shift toward militarism in the late nineteenth century saw a significant reallocation of national resources from social welfare to the expansion of naval and land forces.

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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.