English Lexicon

Militarism

/ˈmɪl.ɪ.tə.rɪ.zəm/
nounCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #4500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    The belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests.

    "The rise of militarism in the region has led to increased tensions between neighboring countries."
  2. 2

    A policy of glorifying military power and keeping a standing army always prepared for war.

    "Militarism often results in the prioritization of military spending over social programs."

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Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the French 'militarisme', combining the Latin 'militaris' (pertaining to a soldier, from miles 'soldier') with the suffix '-ism' denoting a system, principle, or ideological belief. The term gained prominent socio-political currency in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to describe the aggressive governmental policy of maintaining a strong military capability and aggressively expanding it to defend or promote national interests.

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