English Reference

Word

militiamen

Phoneticsmili·ti·a·men

US/məˈɫɪʃəmɪn/

UK/mˈɪlɪʃˌiəmɛn/

Definition

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.

Examples

“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.”

Examples

simple

“The militiamen patrolled the border to protect their village.”

complex

“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.”

Real-World Examples

“Palestinian media reported that Israeli special forces and Israel-backed Palestinian militiamen opposed to Hamas entered the area, but that their presence was discovered.”
BBC News · 1 Sept 2026

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference