soldier

¹sol·dier

noun \ˈsōl-jər\

Definition of SOLDIER

1

a : one engaged in military service and especially in the army b : an enlisted man or woman c : a skilled warrior

2

: a militant leader, follower, or worker

3

a : one of a caste of wingless sterile termites usually differing from workers in larger size and head and long jaws b : one of a type of worker ants distinguished by exceptionally large head and jaws

4

\ˈsō-jər, ˈsōl-\ : one who shirks work

— sol·dier·ly \-lē\ adjective or adverb

— sol·dier·ship \-ˌship\ noun

Examples of SOLDIER

1. Many soldiers were wounded in combat.
2. <one of the goals of war is to keep as many soldiers as possible from being killed>

Origin of SOLDIER

Middle English soudeour, from Anglo-French soudeer, soudeour mercenary, from soudee shilling's worth, wage, from sou, soud shilling, from Late Latin solidus solidus

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SOLDIER

Synonyms: dogface, fighter, legionary, legionnaire, man-at-arms, regular, serviceman, trooper, warrior

Antonyms: civilian

Related Words: servicewoman; carabineer (or carabinier), cavalier, cavalryman, cuirassier, dragoon; doughboy, footman, foot soldier, grunt, infantryman; commando, raider; jarhead [slang], marine, ranger; artilleryman, cannoneer, gunner, mortarman, musketeer, rifleman; archer, crossbowman; lancer, pikeman, spearman; Confederate, Continental, Federal, GI, guardsman, militiaman, minuteman; counterguerrilla (also counterguerilla), guerrilla (or guerilla), irregular, paramilitary, partisan (also partizan); combatant, noncombatant; lifer, veteran, warhorse; conscript, draftee, enrollee, recruit; reservist; champion, knight; digger [chiefly Australian & New Zealand], gallowglass, gendarme

[+]more[-]hide

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical