Definition

A group of ordinary people who are trained to fight and can be called to serve in emergencies, but are not part of the regular army.

Example

The local militia was called to help during the natural disaster.

Conversation

Did you hear about the local militia that formed last week?

Yeah, I saw that in the news; it’s quite interesting.

I wonder what they’ll do during emergencies.

Hopefully, they'll just be there for support and not have to engage in anything drastic.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Militia is derived from the Latin word "militia" (meaning military service or warfare), which comes from "miles" (meaning soldier). The term originally referred to a military force composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers.

Memory Tip

Think of the Latin word for soldier, 'miles', to remember that 'militia' refers to a military force made up of regular citizens.

Visually Confused Words