militia
Armed civilian force
A militia is a military force composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers, typically called up in emergencies.
In American usage, militia often refers to armed civilian groups organized outside government authority, sometimes with anti-government ideology: The militia movement gained momentum in the 1990s.
The Second Amendment's reference to "a well regulated Militia" fuels ongoing debate about gun rights.
Irregular armed fighter
- mercenarySoldier fighting for pay
- commandoSpecial operations soldier
- warlordMilitary ruler by force
- fighterOne who engages in combat
cadre · battalion · platoon · brigade · regiment · unit · cell · combatant
Instant-ready colonial militia
- reservistsPart-time armed forces members
- auxiliariesSupporting or helper elements
- irregularsUnofficial combatants or anomalies
- rangersPark patrol or commandos
volunteers · muster · enrollment · levy · draft · mobilization · yeomanry · posse
Muslim guerrilla combatants
- jihadIslamic struggle, inner or outer
- insurgencyArmed uprising against authority
- fundamentalismStrict adherence to core tenets
- IslamistMuslim political ideologue
supremacist · sectarian · radical · terrorist · cell · recruitment · ideology · propaganda
Defiance of established power
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
- saboteurOne who deliberately undermines
- rebelAuthority defier
coup · insurrection · separatist · faction · dissident · partisan · raider · underground
Strengthening defenses or nutrients
- barricadeObstacle blocking a path
- strongholdFortified place of defense
- garrisonStationed military force
- bunkerReinforced subterranean stronghold
entrenchment · bastion · stockade · outpost · checkpoint · watchtower · armory · perimeter
Devotion to one's country
- allegianceLoyalty owed to authority
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
- libertyAbsence of unjust constraint
freedom · independence · veterans · loyalty · homeland · sovereignty · duty · honor
guerrilla
Irregular armed fighter
fighter · cadre · battalion · platoon · brigade · regiment · unit · cell · combatant · soldier
minutemen
Instant-ready colonial militia
- reservistsPart-time armed forces members
- auxiliariesSupporting or helper elements
- irregularsUnofficial combatants or anomalies
rangers · volunteers · muster · enrollment · levy · draft · mobilization · yeomanry · posse · townsmen
mujahideen
Muslim guerrilla combatants
- jihadIslamic struggle, inner or outer
- insurgencyArmed uprising against authority
- fundamentalismStrict adherence to core tenets
Islamist · supremacist · sectarian · radical · terrorist · cell · recruitment · ideology · propaganda · radicalization
rebellion
Defiance of established power
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
- saboteurOne who deliberately undermines
rebel · coup · insurrection · separatist · faction · dissident · partisan · raider · underground · clandestine
fortification
Strengthening defenses or nutrients
- barricadeObstacle blocking a path
- strongholdFortified place of defense
- garrisonStationed military force
bunker · entrenchment · bastion · stockade · outpost · checkpoint · watchtower · armory · perimeter · sentry
nationalism
Devotion to one's country
- allegianceLoyalty owed to authority
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
liberty · freedom · independence · veterans · loyalty · homeland · sovereignty · duty · honor · oath
- American RevolutionDeclaration of Independence, Boston Tea Party, Continental Congress, founding fathers, Stamp Act
- Military Affairsdefense secretary, War Department, defense strategy, congressional oversight, commander in chief
- Colonial AmericaGeorge Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Benjamin Franklin, Declaration of Independence
- military personnelsoldiers, soldier, midshipmen, officers, troops
- historical warfaremusket, bayonet, cannon, flintlock, cavalry
- IraqBaghdad, Basra, Mosul, Fallujah, Kurdistan
militiaregular army
Nation's permanent military force
standing army · career soldiers · regulars · armed forces · conscript army
militiagovernment forces
Military under state control
police force · law enforcement · security forces · peacekeeping force
- military precisionExacting standardized coordination
- military marchRhythmic troop movement
- military bratsArmed forces children, colloquially
- military draftsCompulsory enlistment into armed forces
- military maneuversSimulated combat operations
- military decorationAward for armed forces
military, militant, militancy, militarism, militarist, militaristic, militate, nonmilitary, militarize