mil ‧ i ‧ tant /ˈmɪlətənt, ˈmɪlɪtənt/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ militancy , ↑ militant , the military, ↑ militia , ↑ militarism , ↑ militarist ; adjective : ↑ military , ↑ militant , ↑ militaristic , ↑ militarized ; adverb : ↑ militantly , ↑ militarily ]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: present participle of militare 'to be a soldier, take part in war' , from miles ; ⇨ ↑ military 1 ]
a militant organization or person is willing to use strong or violent action in order to achieve political or social change:
militant political activists
a militant animal rights group
After the assassination of Martin Luther King, black leaders became more militant.
—militant noun [countable] :
right-wing militants
—militancy noun [uncountable] :
an increase in trade union militancy
—militantly adverb :
a militantly anti-communist group