militarism
UK[ˈmɪlɪtərɪzəm]US[ˈmɪlɪtəˌrɪzəm]
n
the belief that a country should have great military strength and be prepared to use it aggressively.
n
the domination of a government or society by the military and its values.
Morpheme Breakdown
milit
ar
ism
milit
soldier, army
ar
adjective suffix
ism
doctrine, system
Etymology
the word militarism is built upon the latin core for "soldier," miles. the adjective militaris, meaning "of soldiers or war," was formed in latin by adding the suffix -aris. this adjective entered english as "military." the modern abstract noun militarism was created in the 19th century by appending the greek-derived nominalizing suffix -ism, which signifies a distinctive practice, system, or philosophy. thus, the term literally translates to "the doctrine or system centered on the military," evolving from a concrete term for a fighter to an ideology that prioritizes military power, structure, and values in state affairs.
Analysis
Structure: milit (soldier, army) + ar (adjective suffix) + ism (doctrine, system)
milit: from latin miles (genitive militis) meaning "soldier".
ar: a latin-derived adjectival suffix, often used to form adjectives from nouns (e.g., militaris, "of a soldier, military").
ism: a suffix from greek -ismos, via latin -ismus, used to form nouns denoting a system, principle, or ideological doctrine.
Examples
the rise of militarism in the region threatened the delicate peace.
his speeches were criticized for promoting a dangerous brand of militarism.
the country's culture shifted from one of commerce to one of militarism.