Military describes anything related to a country’s armed forces, such as soldiers, equipment, or activities used for defense and war. It can also be used as a noun to refer to the armed forces themselves.
From Latin ‘militaris,’ relating to soldiers, from ‘miles’ meaning ‘soldier.’ It came into English through French in the 16th century.
The word goes back to ‘miles,’ a Roman foot soldier, reminding us that organized armies are an ancient invention. Modern militaries now include cyber units and space commands—worlds the Romans could never have imagined.
Military institutions have historically been male-dominated and often framed in explicitly masculine terms, with women’s roles marginalized or restricted. Language around the military has frequently assumed male soldiers and leaders by default.
Avoid defaulting to male pronouns or examples when referring to soldiers, officers, or veterans; use gender-neutral terms like 'service member' and specify gender only when relevant. Be cautious not to erase women and non-binary people’s service.
["armed forces","service members","defense forces"]
When discussing military history or policy, include women and gender-diverse people’s roles—as combatants, strategists, medics, and organizers—rather than treating them as exceptions.
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