militia

[ mi-lish-uh ]
/ mɪˈlɪʃ ə /

noun

a body of citizens enrolled for military service, and called out periodically for drill but serving full time only in emergencies.
a body of citizen soldiers as distinguished from professional soldiers.
all able-bodied males considered by law eligible for military service.
a body of citizens organized in a paramilitary group and typically regarding themselves as defenders of individual rights against the presumed interference of the federal government.

Origin of militia

1580–90; < Latin mīlitia soldiery, equivalent to mīlit- (stem of mīles) soldier + -ia -ia

Example sentences from the Web for militia

British Dictionary definitions for militia

militia
/ (mɪˈlɪʃə) /

noun

a body of citizen (as opposed to professional) soldiers
an organization containing men enlisted for service in emergency only

Word Origin for militia

C16: from Latin: soldiery, from mīles soldier