German word

Miliz

Pronunciation

IPA/miˈliːts/

Meaning

  • feminine nounmilitia

Example

Die Miliz verteidigt das Dorf.

The militia is defending the village.

Illustration for Miliz (militia)

More examples

Eine freiwillige Miliz sammelte Hilfsgüter für die Bevölkerung.

A volunteer militia collected relief supplies for the population.

Core concept

A locally organized civilian force whose members take up armed service alongside ordinary work.

Common phrases

  • freiwillige Miliz

    volunteer militia

  • bürgerliche Miliz

    citizen militia

Similar words

Armee: A nation's standing army of professionally trained soldiers.
Militär: The armed forces and institutions responsible for national defense.
Reserve: A military reserve whose members live as civilians in peacetime.
Bürgerwehr: A self-organized civilian guard formed to defend a local area.

Definition in German

Kollektiv von Bürgern, das freiwillig bewaffnet Dienste zur lokalen Verteidigung oder zur Unterstützung der öffentlichen Ordnung leistet, oft nebenberuflich organisiert.

Word origin

Miliz comes from Latin militia, meaning military service, through Romance-language forms such as French milice.

Usage tips

  • Miliz is feminine in German, so the forms are die Miliz and die Milizen.

Other meanings

  • citizen armynoun
  • volunteer armynoun

Opposites

  • reguläre Streitkräfteregular armed forcesnoun
  • Berufsarmeeprofessional armynoun

Related words

  • Milizverbandmilitia organizationnoun
  • Milizmitgliedmilitia membernoun

Word lists with this word