military

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "military" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to armed forces or matters related to the armed services. Example: "The military has a significant role in national defense and security."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

North Korea's state media often boasts of successful military and space accomplishments, including the launch of a functional communications satellite, which are not independently verified by outside experts.

The Guardian

Perhaps even more worrying to Mr. Assad, his military has come to rely more heavily on equipment designed for a major battle with a foreign enemy, namely Israel, rather than a protracted civil conflict with his own people.

The New York Times

Close observers of his military say Syria is having trouble keeping its sophisticated and maintenance-intensive weapons functioning.

The New York Times

Relations remain strained, even as Uzbekistan serves as a transit hub for the Afghanistan military withdrawal.

The Guardian

After 9/11 Uzbekistan became a close strategic partner of the US, providing military facilities and transit routes to support US and Nato operations in Afghanistan.

The Guardian

The material effect of being so isolated is that information is reordered around the reality they can't escape: everybody has to care what the Hamas military guy says; his speech is analysed late into the night by groups huddled over cigarettes.

The Guardian - Opinion

There is no love lost between the Farc and the US: Washington put the guerrilla group on its list of terrorist organizations in 1997 and poured billions of dollars of military aid into a campaign to defeat them.

The Guardian

A November report by a British thinktank noted a rise in close military encounters between Russia and the west this year, including "violations of national airspace, emergency scrambles, narrowly avoided mid-air collisions, close encounters at sea, simulated attack runs and other dangerous actions happening on a regular basis over a very wide geographical area".

The Guardian

Intent on offering his condolences and meeting Abdullah's successor in person, Obama led an exceptionally high-powered delegation to Riyadh that included former secretaries of state, past presidential candidates and senior military commanders.

The Guardian

He never saw combat and spent most of his military service as a guard in prisoner-of-war camps.

The Guardian - Arts

Related: Spy agencies fund climate research in hunt for weather weapon, scientist fears Like so many military experiments, these trials failed but cloud seeding became a reality in 1967/8 when the US's Operation Popeye increased rainfall by an estimated 30% over parts of Vietnam in an attempt to reduce the movement of soldiers and resources into South Vietnam.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "military" in overly general terms; instead, specify the branch or type of military action being discussed for clarity.

Common error

Avoid treating "military" as a single, monolithic entity. Recognize that the military encompasses diverse branches, ranks, and specializations, each with its own unique functions and capabilities.

Linguistic Context

Military functions as both a noun, referring to armed forces, and an adjective, describing something related to armed forces or warfare. Ludwig's examples show its use in various contexts, such as referring to military operations, equipment, and personnel. The Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "military" is a versatile term functioning as both a noun and an adjective, predominantly used in the News & Media context. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and usable in written English, referring to armed forces or matters related to the armed services. While grammatically sound, overuse of "military" in general terms should be avoided for greater specificity. Consider alternatives like "armed forces", "defense forces", or specifying the branch for clarity. The phrase's frequent and authoritative usage underscores its importance in describing entities, actions, and characteristics associated with warfare and armed forces.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Armed forces

Refers directly to the organized armed forces of a nation or group.

Armed services

Another common term for a nation's military.

Defense forces

Focuses on the aspect of defending a nation or territory.

Fighting forces

Emphasizes the active combat role of the military.

War machine

Implies a powerful and organized military structure.

Military establishment

Highlights the institutional and organizational aspects of the military.

Military personnel

Refers to the people serving in the armed forces.

Naval forces

Specifies the sea-based component of a military.

Air force

Denotes a nation's air-based military branch.

Ground forces

Focuses on army or land forces.

FAQs

How to use "military" in a sentence?

You can use "military" to refer to armed forces in general, as in "He served in the military for ten years." It can also be used as an adjective, such as in "military operations" or "military equipment".

What can I say instead of "military"?

You can use alternatives like "armed forces", "defense forces", or "war machine" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "military" or "militaries"?

"Military" is generally used as a collective noun to refer to a country's armed forces. "Militaries" can be used to refer to the armed forces of multiple countries, such as "the militaries of the world".

What's the difference between "military" and "paramilitary"?

"Military" refers to the official armed forces of a country, while "paramilitary" refers to organizations that are not part of the official military but are structured and operate in a similar way, often for law enforcement or security purposes.