militant

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Strongly active and aggressive in support of a cause, and ready to fight for it.

   The militant protesters refused to leave until their demands were met.

2. 2
   noun

   A person who fights or uses aggressive methods for a political or social cause.

   Armed militants seized control of the government building.

Simplified etymology

Militant ultimately derives from Latin miles, “soldier,” the root also found in military, militate, and militia. It chiefly meant “engaged in warfare” for much of its history, then from the late 19th century came especially to describe aggressive activity in pursuit of a political or social cause.

From Middle French militant, from Latin mīlitāns, present participle of mīlitāre (“to serve as a soldier”).

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary