verb / noun
conscript
kuhn-SKRIPT/kənˈskrɪpt/
To force someone into military service, or a person forced to serve.
The government conscripts young adults when the army needs more soldiers.
Etymology
The image is of writing names together on a list, hence enrolling people. The English verb comes from the noun for someone compulsorily enrolled, turning that listing into forced military service.
In context
held the military authority over the whole city, able to marshal its defenses, its troop types, its siege resources— even conscript every classholder in the city to fight the enemy
More examples
- He was conscripted into the army at eighteen.
- Unlike volunteers, conscripts have no choice about joining the military.
- Each conscript receives basic training before joining a unit.
Forms
conscript · conscripts · conscripted · conscripting
conscription noun — The compulsory enrollment of people in military service.