English Words for "Military" | C1 Vocabulary

Atrocity

[ noun ]

a

ə

t

r

o

ɑ

c

s

i

ə

t

y

i

Close

Sign in

an extremely brutal act, especially in war

Example

Click on words

After the war ended, several leaders were put on trial for the atrocities they had sanctioned.

The museum had an exhibit dedicated to the atrocities of war, showcasing the harsh realities many had faced.

Admiral

[ noun ]

a

æ

d

m

i

ɜ

r

a

ə

l

the highest-ranking officer in a fleet

Colonel

[ noun ]

c

k

o

ɜ

l

r

o

n

e

ə

l

a high-ranking officer in the army, marine corps, or air force, whose rank is between a lieutenant colonel and brigadier general

General

[ noun ]

g

ʤ

e

ɛ

n

e

ɜ

r

a

ə

l

a high-ranking officer in the army, Air Force, or Marines

Major

[ noun ]

m

a

eɪ

j

ʤ

o

ə

r

a middle-ranking officer in the armed forces

Veteran

[ noun ]

v

e

ɛ

t

e

ɜ

r

a

ə

n

a former member of the armed forces who has fought in a war

To assassinate

[ Verb ]

a

ə

ss

s

a

æ

ss

s

i

ə

n

a

eɪ

t

e

to murder a prominent figure in a sudden attack, usually for political purposes

Grammatical Information:

transitive

To blast

[ Verb ]

b

l

a

æ

s

t

to violently damage or destroy something using explosives

Grammatical Information:

transitive

To blow up

[ Verb ]

/blˈoʊ ˈʌp/

to cause something to explode

Grammatical Information:

transitive

Phrasal Status

separable

phrase's verb

blow

phrase's particle

up

To bombard

[ Verb ]

b

o

ɑ

m

b

a

ɑ

r

d

to drop bombs on someone or something continuously

Grammatical Information:

transitive

To charge

[ Verb ]

ch

ʧ

a

ɑ

r

g

ʤ

e

to attack violently and suddenly in a battle

Grammatical Information:

transitive

To conquer

[ Verb ]

c

k

o

ɑ

n

q

k

ue

ɜ

r

to gain control of a place or people using armed forces

Grammatical Information:

transitive

To deploy

[ Verb ]

d

e

ɪ

p

l

o

ɔ

y

ɪ

to position soldiers or equipment for military action

Grammatical Information:

transitive

To evacuate

[ Verb ]

e

i

v

a

æ

c

k

u

j

a

əeɪ

t

e

(of armed forces) to empty a dangerous place

Grammatical Information:

transitive

To execute

[ Verb ]

e

ɛ

x

ks

e

ə

c

k

u

ju

t

e

to kill someone, especially as a legal penalty

Grammatical Information:

transitive

To mobilize

[ Verb ]

m

o

oʊ

b

i

ə

l

i

aɪ

z

e

(of a state) to organize and prepare for a military operation

demobilize

Grammatical Information:

transitive

To surrender

[ Verb ]

s

u

ɜ

rr

r

e

ɛ

n

d

e

ɜ

r

to give up resistance or stop fighting against an enemy or opponent

resist

Grammatical Information:

intransitive

To retreat

[ Verb ]

r

e

i

t

r

ea

i

t

(of military) to move away in order to escape the danger because one has been defeated or is weak

advance

Grammatical Information:

intransitive

Guerrilla

[ noun ]

g

ue

ɜ

rr

r

i

ɪ

ll

l

a

ə

a person who participates in irregular fighting as a member of an unofficial military group

Militia

[ noun ]

m

i

ə

l

i

ɪ

t

ʃ

ia

ə

a military group consisting of civilians who have been trained as soldiers to help the army in emergencies

Militant

[ Adjective ]

m

i

ɪ

l

i

ə

t

a

ə

n

t

displaying violent acts for the sake of a social or political aim

Naval

[ Adjective ]

n

a

eɪ

v

a

ə

l

relating to the armed forces that operate at seas or waters in general

Civilian

[ Adjective ]

c

s

i

ə

v

i

ɪ

l

i

j

a

ə

n

relating to a person who is not a member of the military or police force and does not hold an official position in the government

military

Defensive

[ Adjective ]

d

e

ɪ

f

e

ɛ

n

s

i

ɪ

v

e

designed or used in a way that provides a person or thing with protection against attack

offensive

Explosive

[ Adjective ]

e

ɪ

x

ks

p

l

o

oʊ

s

i

ɪ

v

e

having the potential to cause sudden and violent release of energy or force

nonexplosive

A-bomb

[ noun ]

/ˈeɪbˈɑːm/

a nuclear weapon with great destruction power which is released due to the fission of heavy atoms

Rifle

[ noun ]

r

i

aɪ

f

ə

l

e

a long gun suitable for shooting a target over long distances, which is held along shoulder while aiming the target

What is a "rifle"?

A rifle is a type of gun designed for shooting bullets at a long distance. It has a long barrel with spiral grooves inside, called rifling, which makes the bullet spin as it travels, improving accuracy. Rifles are used for different purposes, like hunting, target shooting, and by the military or police. They come in different sizes and types depending on their use.

Fleet

[ noun ]

f

l

ee

i

t

a group of ships under the command of one high-ranking officer

Raid

[ noun ]

r

ai

eɪ

d

a surprise attack against a place or a group of people

Curfew

[ noun ]

c

k

u

ɜ

r

f

e

w

u

an order or law that prohibits people from going outside after a specific time, particularly at night

Hostage

[ noun ]

h

o

ɑ

s

t

a

ɪ

g

ʤ

e

someone held prisoner by a person or group who will be set free if the demands of that person or group are met

Torture

[ noun ]

t

o

ɔ

r

t

ʧ

u

ɜ

r

e

the act of making someone suffer very much so that they do what one wants

Occupation

[ noun ]

o

ɑ

cc

k

u

j

ə

p

a

eɪ

t

ʃ

io

ə

n

the act of invading and controlling a country, city, etc.

Trench

[ noun ]

t

r

e

ɛ

n

ch

ʧ

a long narrow hole dug in the ground in which soldiers move and are protected from enemy fire

Truce

[ noun ]

t

r

u

c

s

e

an agreement according to which enemies or opponents stop fighting each other for a specific period of time

To arm

[ Verb ]

a

ɑ:

r

m

to provide individuals or groups with weapons, ensuring they have the necessary equipment for defense or offense

Grammatical Information:

transitive

Warfare

[ noun ]

w

a

ɔ

r

f

a

ɛ

r

e

involvement in war, particularly using certain methods or weapons

Machine gun

[ noun ]

/məʃˈiːn ɡˈʌn/

a gun that automatically and rapidly fires a succession of bullets upon pressing the trigger

Evacuation

[ noun ]

e

i

v

a

æ

c

k

u

j

a

t

ʃ

io

ə

n

the action of transferring people or being transferred to somewhere else to be safe from a dangerous situation

Command

[ noun ]

c

k

o

ə

mm

m

a

æ

n

d

an order, particularly given by someone in a position of authority

AWOL

[ Adjective ]

/ˈeɪˌwɔɫ/

Disapproving

Idiom

(of a soldier) having left one's military duty without being permitted to do so

What is the origin of the idiom "AWOL" and when to use it?

The idiom "AWOL" originated as a military acronym and stands for "Absent Without Leave." Its exact origin is uncertain, but it is believed to have emerged in the early 19th century within military contexts. The acronym was used to describe the act of a soldier leaving their military duty without proper permission or authorization. It is commonly employed to denote unauthorized absences, desertions, or failures to report for duty within the military hierarchy.

Ground zero

[ noun ]

/ɡɹˈaʊnd zˈiəɹoʊ/

the exact location of a nuclear explosion

Grammatical Information:

compound noun

Gunner

[ noun ]

g

u

ə

nn

n

e

ɜ

r

a member of an armed force who is specifically trained to fire large guns

Blowgun

[ noun ]

b

l

o

oʊ

w

g

u

ə

n

a tube-like weapon through which an arrow is shot if someone breathes in it forcefully

Submachine gun

[ noun ]

/sˈʌbməʃˌiːn ɡˈʌn/

an automatic gun that is not heavy and can be easily held and carried by hand

Grammatical Information:

compound noun

To station

[ Verb ]

s

t

a

eɪ

t

ʃ

io

ə

n

to send a person to a particular place in order to carry out a duty, particularly a military person

Grammatical Information:

transitive

Magazine

[ noun ]

m

a

æ

g

a

ə

z

i

i:

n

e

the part of a gun containing its bullets

Artillery

[ noun ]

a

ɑ

r

t

i

ɪ

ll

l

e

ɜ

r

y

i

big heavy guns that are attached on top of moving wheels or tracks

Nuclear deterrent

[ noun ]

/nˈuːklɪɹ dɪtˈɜːɹəns/

a nuclear weapon of a country that is very powerful and serves as a protection against other countries' attacks

Grammatical Information:

compound noun

Nerve agent

[ noun ]

/nˈɜːv ˈeɪdʒənt/

a poisonous chemical that is damaging to the nervous system and is used as a war weapon

Grammatical Information:

compound noun

Nerve gas

[ noun ]

/nˈɜːv ɡˈæs/

a toxic chemical substance that interferes with the normal functioning of the nervous system

Grammatical Information:

compound noun

Roger

[ interjection ]

r

o

ɑ

g

ʤ

e

ɜ

r

used as a confirmation message in radio communication to indicate that a message has been received and understood

What is the origin and context of use of 'roger'?

The use of "roger" as an interjection has its origin in radio communication and military jargon where it is used to acknowledge that a message has been received and understood. In more casual and everyday language, the use of "roger" has extended beyond its original radio communication context. It is sometimes used informally as a way of expressing agreement or acknowledgment in a similar manner to saying "got it" or "acknowledged."

Ten-four

[ interjection ]

/tˈɛnfˈoːɹ/

a radio code used in two-way radio communication as an affirmative response or an indication of understanding

Martial law

[ noun ]

/mˈɑːɹʃəl lˈɔː/

a situation where the military becomes in charge of a country, replacing regular laws with their own rule, in order to maintain order during times of crisis or disturbance

Grammatical Information:

compound noun

To discharge

[ Verb ]

d

i

ɪ

s

ch

ʧ

a

ɑ

r

g

ʤ

e

to make someone leave the armed forces or police and relieving them from their duties

enlist

Grammatical Information:

transitive

Congratulations! !

You learned 55 words from Lesson 51. To improve learning and review vocabulary, start practicing.

Review

Flashcards

Spelling

Quiz