Definition

A man who is part of a military force that is not a professional army, often made up of local citizens who can be called to serve in emergencies.

Example

The militiaman stood ready to defend his town during the crisis.

Conversation

Did you hear about the local militiaman who helped during the storm?

Yeah, I read about that! It was really brave of him.

I think it’s great how he stepped up to support the community.

Absolutely! We need more people like that in tough times.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Militiaman → It is formed from "militia" (from Latin *militia*, meaning military service or soldiers) and "-man" (meaning a person). The word "militiaman" refers to a person who is a member of a militia, or a military force composed of ordinary citizens.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'militia' as a group of citizens serving in military roles, and '-man' simply means a person. So, a militiaman is a person who serves in that citizen military.

Visually Confused Words