MILITANT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does militant mean? 

• MILITANT (noun)
  The noun MILITANT has 1 sense:

1. a militant reformer

  Familiarity information: MILITANT used as a noun is very rare.

• MILITANT (adjective)
  The adjective MILITANT has 3 senses:

1. disposed to warfare or hard-line policies

2. showing a fighting disposition

3. engaged in war

  Familiarity information: MILITANT used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MILITANT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A militant reformer

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

activist; militant

Hypernyms ("militant" is a kind of...):

crusader; meliorist; reformer; reformist; social reformer (a disputant who advocates reform)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "militant"):

Black Muslim (an activist member of a largely American group of Blacks called the Nation of Islam)

Black Panther (a member of the Black Panthers political party)

Instance hyponyms:

Malcolm Little; Malcolm X (militant civil rights leader (1925-1965))

• MILITANT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Disposed to warfare or hard-line policies

Synonyms:

hawkish; militant; warlike

Context example:

warlike policies

Similar:

unpeaceful (not peaceful)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Showing a fighting disposition

Synonyms:

competitive; militant

Context example:

his self-assertive and ubiquitous energy

Similar:

aggressive (having or showing determination and energetic pursuit of your ends)

Derivation:

militance; militancy (a militant aggressiveness)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Engaged in war

Synonyms:

belligerent; militant; war-ridden; warring

Context example:

belligerent (or warring) nations

Similar:

unpeaceful (not peaceful)

 Context examples 

She bounded in amongst them, her anxious and militant motherhood making her anything but a pretty sight.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

True that his gentle and thoughtful nature recoiled from the grim work of war, yet in those days of martial orders and militant brotherhoods there was no gulf fixed betwixt the priest and the soldier.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Yes, and deems, and is bound to deem, himself honoured by the lot, and aspires but after the day when the cross of separation from fleshly ties shall be laid on his shoulders, and when the Head of that church-militant of whose humblest members he is one, shall give the word, 'Rise, follow Me!'

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)