# militia

/məˈɫɪʃə/ (US) · /məlˈɪʃɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/militia
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. civilian military force

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a group of citizens who receive military training so they can defend their country or area in an emergency.

For teachers: a military force raised from the civil population to supplement a regular army in an emergency.

- The local militia was called to help the regular army defend the border.
- During the revolutionary period, the local militia provided a crucial defensive layer while the professional continental forces were reorganising.

### 3. national police force

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the name for the national police force in some countries, especially in Eastern Europe.

For teachers: the name of the national police force in certain countries, particularly former Soviet states.

- He worked for the national militia for twenty years before retiring.
- The transition from a Soviet-style militia to a modern police force required significant legislative reform and retraining of personnel.

Usage: Often used as a proper noun or in translation to refer to the 'Militsiya'.

## Examples

- The local militia gathered to protect the town.
- Without a standing army to defend the border, the government relied on a volunteer militia to maintain order.
- Historians argue whether the poorly equipped militia could have withstood a sustained assault from a professional force without the arrival of foreign reinforcements.

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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.