military
/ˈmɪlətri/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmɪləteri/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmi-lə-ˌter-ē/ (ame, mw) · /ˈmɪl.ɪ.tər.i/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmɪl.ə.ter.i/ (ame, ipa)
military — adjective
- militarypositive
- more militarycomparative
- most militarysuperlative
1. connected to a country's army, navy, and air force — the organized groups that f
connected to a country's army, navy, and air force — the organized groups that fight wars and defend the nation.
Ravindra completed his military service last year and now works at a hospital.
collocation: military service
The government sent military aircraft to deliver food after the flood.
collocation: military aircraft
A large military base near the capital trains over five thousand soldiers each year.
Camila's father served in the military police for twenty years before retiring.
Military action was taken only after diplomatic talks had completely failed.
- armed forces
used as a noun phrase rather than an adjective; describes the same groups
- defence
broader term; 'defence policy' may include non-military security measures
- service
common in official titles like 'service member', but less specific
文法句型
military + noun
用法筆記
Always appears before the noun it describes. Do not use with very: ❌ 'a very military base'.
常見錯誤
2. showing the strict order, plain neatness, and strong discipline that people expe
showing the strict order, plain neatness, and strong discipline that people expect from soldiers.
The school has a military style of discipline that parents greatly admire.
pattern: military + style / precision / discipline
Hannah keeps her desk with military precision, every pen in its proper place.
collocation: military precision
The hotel staff moved with military efficiency when the VIP guest arrived.
Otis gave his report in a short, military tone that left no room for argument.
A military haircut is short and neat, easy to keep clean.
- disciplined
focuses on self-control and obedience rather than the full military aesthetic
- regimented
more negative; suggests rigid, oppressive order
- strict
broader; does not carry the neat-appearance meaning
- messy
lacking neatness or order
- disorganized
without clear structure or discipline
- relaxed
informal and free, opposite of strict discipline
文法句型
military + noun
用法筆記
Describes things that are NOT part of the armed forces but have qualities associated with them. Common with nouns like precision, discipline, efficiency, style, order.
常見錯誤
military — noun
- militarysingular
- militariesplural
1. the army, navy, air force, and other fighting groups that belong to one particul
the army, navy, air force, and other fighting groups that belong to one particular country and protect it from attack.
Taiwan's military holds regular exercises to practise defending the island.
possessive + military: 'Taiwan's military'
The president ordered the military to send rescue teams to the flooded villages.
Eri's brother joined the military right after finishing high school in Kyoto.
The country spent billions of dollars modernizing its military this decade.
A country's military includes not only soldiers but also pilots and sailors.
- armed forces
more formal and plural; 'the armed forces of a nation'
- defence forces
used mainly in official names of certain countries
- the services
British English; 'the three services' means army, navy, and air force
文法句型
the + military
possessive + military
用法筆記
Used with a country's name or possessive (Taiwan's military, the US military). When referring to the abstract institution, see noun sense 2, which is more general.
常見錯誤
2. the whole institution of armed forces, considered as a separate part of society
the whole institution of armed forces, considered as a separate part of society and as a career option, in contrast to civilian life.
Life in the military is very different from life in a regular office job.
Darius decided to make a career in the military after speaking with a recruiter.
career in the military
Many young people see the military as a chance to learn skills and travel.
The military often provides free education for soldiers and their families.
After ten years in the military, Nala started her own small business in town.
- the forces
informal British English; 'He's in the forces'
- the services
often plural; 'the three services'
- the armed services
more formal than 'the military'
- civilian life
everyday life outside the armed forces
文法句型
the + military
用法筆記
This sense focuses on the military as an institution or career. Use it when talking about joining, serving in, or leaving the armed forces as a general idea, without specifying which country's forces.