rhizoverbBeta
DictionarymilitarismSupport for military power
noun

militarism

MIL-ih-tuh-riz-um/ˈmɪlɪtərɪzəm/

Belief in maintaining strong military power and influence.

The advocate's militarism places military power ahead of schools and hospitals.

At a modern national-policy planning table, a military advocate places a tank model at the center of the plan while moving models of a school and hospital to the margin; a civilian policymaker observes.
Etymology
militarLatinof soldiers or war
+ismGreekpractice or doctrine

The military adjective plus a practice-or-doctrine ending first named a military spirit or devotion to war. Applied to nations, it came to mean military predominance and reliance on armies for national power.

In context

Sleep Histories3:14
This arrangement made perfect sense to the Romans, for whom militarism was a way of life. They made no real distinction between political ability and military skill.
Praetor: Rome’s Ultimate Test

More examples

  • Her essay explores the link between nationalism and militarism.
  • Militarism shapes the party's calls for a larger army.
  • The peace movement challenges militarism in schools and public life.

Forms

militarism

militarist noun — A person who advocates strong military power.

militaristic adjective — Favoring strong military power and influence.

Similar words

jingoism
Aggressive nationalism favoring threats or war against other countries.
bellicosity
An eagerness to fight, rather than support for military strength.