Definition
The compulsory enrollment of citizens into military service, also known as the draft. This system requires eligible individuals to serve in the armed forces for a specified period, regardless of personal preference.
Etymology
From Latin 'conscriptio,' meaning 'enrollment' or 'levy,' derived from 'conscribere' (to write together, enroll). The concept evolved from ancient Roman military practices where citizens were 'written down' on military rolls.
Kelly Says
Napoleon's mass conscription created the first truly national armies, fundamentally changing warfare from aristocratic affairs to total societal commitments. The Vietnam War draft sparked massive protests that reshaped American politics, while countries like Switzerland and South Korea still use conscription to build national unity and defense capabilities in the 21st century.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ወታደራዊ አገልግሎት
wetaderawi āgelɡelot
ARالعربية
التجنيد
al-tajnīd
BNবাংলা
সামরিক সেবা
sāmrik sēbā
CACatalà
servei militar
sɛrˈvɛj mil.iˈtaɾ
CSČeština
branná povinnost
branna povinnost
DADansk
værnepligt
væɐ̯nəpli
DEDeutsch
Wehrpflicht
veːɐ̯pflɪçt
ELΕλληνικά
στρατιωτική θητεία
stratiotikí thīteía
ESEspañol
reclutamiento
reklutamjento
FAفارسی
خدمت سربازی
xidmat sarbāzī
FISuomi
varusmiespalvelus
ʋɑrusmiespɑlʋelus
FRFrançais
conscrit
kɔ̃skʁi
GUGU
સૈનિક સેવા
sainik sēvā
HAHA
aikin soja
aikin soja
HEעברית
שירות צבאי
sherut tsavaʔi
HIहिन्दी
सैन्य सेवा
sainya seva
HUMagyar
sorkatonai szolgálat
ʃorkɒtonɒi solɡaːlat
IDBahasa Indonesia
wajib militer
wadʒib militeʔ
ITItaliano
coscrizione
kɔskriˈtsjoːne
KKKK
әскери қызмет
æskeri qɯzmet
KMKM
ការបម្រើយោធា
kaː pɔːmʋiː joutiə
MRMR
लष्करी सेवा
laṣkarī sēvā
MSBahasa Melayu
khidmat tentera
xidmat təntera
MYမြန်မာ
စစ်မှုထမ်းချိန်
sɪʔ m̥ù tʰàɴ tɕʰìɴ
NLNederlands
dienstplicht
diːnstplɪxt
NONorsk
verneplikt
værnəplikt
PAPA
ਫੌਜੀ ਸੇਵਾ
phaujī sēvā
PLPolski
przymus wojskowy
pʂɨmus vɔjskɔvɨ
PTPortuguês
recrutamento
ʁekɾutɐˈmẽtu
RORomână
încorporare
ɨnkɔrpɔraɾe
SVSvenska
värnplikt
værnplikt
SWKiswahili
huduma ya kijeshi
huduma ya kijɛʃi
TAதமிழ்
இராணுவ சேவை
irāṇuva cēvai
TEతెలుగు
సైనిక సేవ
sainika sēva
THไทย
การเกณฑ์ทหาร
kār kēn thāhān
TLTL
serbisyo militar
sɛrbisyo militɑr
TRTürkçe
askerlik
askerlik
UKУкраїнська
призов
pryzov
URاردو
فوجی خدمت
faujī khidmat
VITiếng Việt
nhập ngũ
ŋap ŋũ
YOYO
ìṣẹ́ ológun
iṣẹ olɔɡun
ZUZU
isikhundla sesigameko
isikhundla sesiɡameko
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Conscription historically exempted women while mandating male military service, embedding assumptions about male disposability and female non-citizenship in law. This gendered policy shaped language around duty, sacrifice, and civic responsibility as implicitly masculine.
Inclusive Usage
When discussing conscription, acknowledge that historical exemption of women reflected discriminatory assumptions, not biological reality. Modern usage should avoid naturalized masculinity.
Empowerment Note
Women have served in militaries worldwide despite legal exclusion; many fought in wars as combatants before formal conscription equality.