militia

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablemilitary

   A group of ordinary citizens who are trained to fight and called up in an emergency, apart from the regular army.

   Grammar: Takes a singular or plural verb in British English: the militia was or were called.

   Patterns

   • join the militia
   • a militia of something

   The town militia gathered on the green.

   Farmers joined the militia during the war.

   The governor called out the state militia.

2. 2nouncountable

   An armed group that is not part of a regular army and often acts for a political or local cause.

   Grammar: Often used in news about armed groups.

   Patterns

   • a militia group

   Militia fighters controlled the road.

   A local militia took over the town.

   Aid workers negotiated with the militia.

Word forms

Common combinations

local militia

A local militia defended the village.

armed militia

An armed militia blocked the bridge.

call out the militia

The governor chose to call out the militia.

militia members

Militia members trained on weekends.

citizen militia

The citizen militia disbanded after the war.

Synonyms and how they differ

army

An army is a professional full-time force, while a militia is made of civilians.

home guard

Home guard is a historic British term for volunteers defending the country, and militia is wider.

paramilitary

Paramilitary describes a group organized like an army, whereas militia stresses its citizen makeup.

reserve

Reserve forces are part of the regular military, while a militia may be independent.

Opposites

Word family

militiaman noun

a male member of a militia

militiamen noun

plural of militiaman

military adjective

relating to armed forces

militarism noun

belief in strong armed forces

Commonly confused: militia or military?

Practice

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