militia

/məˈlɪʃə/ (bre, ipa) · /məˈlɪʃə/ (ame, ipa) · /mə-ˈli-shə/ (ame, mw)

militia — noun

  • militiasingular
  • militiasplural

1. a group of ordinary people who train to fight as soldiers but are not part of a

1.名詞B2
釋義

a group of ordinary people who train to fight as soldiers but are not part of a country’s regular, full-time army; they may be called on in emergencies or to support the military

例句

The local militia helped keep order after the earthquake destroyed the police station.

local militia + supporting role in emergencies

In many small towns, the militia meets once a month for weapons training.

militia + meets for [activity]

同義詞
  • reserve force

    emphasizes the backup role; less about part-time training, more about being called up when needed

  • paramilitary group

    more negative connotation; often suggests a group operating outside official military control

  • volunteer army

    implies people joined by choice; a volunteer army is usually full-time, unlike a militia

反義詞
  • regular army

    full-time professional soldiers who serve as a permanent national force

文法句型

the militia

a militia

militia + singular/plural verb

用法筆記

This sense often refers to a locally organized group (village, town, or region) rather than a national force. The militia can take a singular or plural verb: “the militia is/are training.”

常見錯誤

❌The militia is part of the regular army.
✅The militia is separate from the regular army.
💡Militia members are not professional soldiers; they have civilian jobs and train part-time.

2. in some legal systems, all healthy citizens of a certain age who could be requir

2.名詞C1
釋義

in some legal systems, all healthy citizens of a certain age who could be required by law to serve in the military if the country needs them, even if they are not actively training

例句

An elderly clerk stamped each registration form “Militia—Able-bodied Male” as the young farmers filed past his desk.

legal-category sense: registration process

The history textbook explained how the American militia once included every free adult male.

同義詞
  • reserve

    a trained military force held back for emergencies; narrower than the entire eligible pool

  • conscription pool

    specifically citizens who could be drafted; more technical and less common

文法句型

the militia

part of the militia

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: here, “militia” refers to a legal category of all eligible citizens, not an active group that trains together. This usage is primarily found in historical or constitutional contexts, especially in U.S. law.

常見錯誤

❌The militia gathered at the town square to drill.’ (when meaning the legal pool of all eligible citizens)
✅Under the Constitution, the militia included all able-bodied men.
💡The legal sense describes a category of people, not an active group that meets.