militiamen
n. plural-only B2 Upper Intermediate US //məˈɫɪʃəmɪn// UK //mˈɪlɪʃˌiəmɛn// mili·ti·a·men
n. people who are not professional soldiers but are trained to fight for their country or their community. They usually only serve when there is a war or a local emergency.
n. individuals who are members of a non-professional armed force, typically organized for local defense or to support regular military units during a conflict.
The militiamen patrolled the border to protect their village.
The government struggled to integrate the various groups of militiamen into a cohesive national defense strategy, as many preferred to remain loyal to their regional leaders rather than the central authority.