A person who serves in an army, especially someone who is not an officer. Soldiers are trained to fight in wars and to carry out military duties.
“Soldier” comes from Old French “soudier” or “soldier,” based on “solde,” meaning “pay” or “wages,” from Latin “solidus,” a type of coin. The word originally meant a person who served for pay. Over time it became the general term for a member of an army.
Built into “soldier” is the idea of being paid—these were originally “wage people” of war. That reminds us that armies are not just about bravery or patriotism; they’re also huge systems of work and money. The word quietly links the battlefield to the paycheck.
'Soldier' has often been implicitly male in many languages and cultures, with women’s military roles minimized or restricted to support positions. Official terms and imagery historically centered male soldiers, reinforcing the idea that combat and service were primarily male domains.
Use 'soldier' as a gender‑neutral term and avoid assuming soldiers are men; specify 'women soldiers' or other genders only when gender is directly relevant.
["service member","military personnel"]
When describing military history and contemporary forces, include women and gender‑diverse soldiers whose service and leadership have often been underrecognized.
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