1
a
: one engaged in military service and especially in the army
b
: an enlisted man or woman
c
: a skilled warrior
2
: a militant leader, follower, or worker
3
a
: one of a caste of wingless sterile termites usually differing from workers in larger size and head and long jaws
b
: one of a type of worker ants distinguished by exceptionally large head and jaws
4
ˈsō-jər 
ˈsōl-
: one who shirks work
soldiered; soldiering
ˈsōl-jə-riŋ
ˈsōlj-riŋ
1
a
: to serve as a soldier
b
: to behave in a soldierly manner
c
: to push doggedly forward
—usually used with on
soldiered on to the end
2
: to make a pretense of working while really loafing
Synonyms
Examples of soldier in a Sentence
Noun
Many soldiers were wounded in combat.
one of the goals of war is to keep as many soldiers as possible from being killed
Recent Examples on the Web
Tia Goldenberg, arkansasonline.com, 29 Apr. 2024
The serviceman, 36, said he was taken prisoner along with several thousand soldiers and marines after a long siege at the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol in May 2022.
—Oleksandr Chubko, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for soldier 
Noun
The second phase would start after the release of civilian and sick hostages, and would include negotiating the release of soldiers, the official added.
—Tia Goldenberg, arkansasonline.com, 29 Apr. 2024
The serviceman, 36, said he was taken prisoner along with several thousand soldiers and marines after a long siege at the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol in May 2022.
—Oleksandr Chubko, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for soldier
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'soldier.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to soldier
Dictionary Entries Near soldier
Cite this Entry
“Soldier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soldier. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
soldier
1 of 2 noun
sol·dier
ˈsōl-jər
1
a
: a person in military service and especially in the army
b
: an enlisted person
2
: a worker in something strongly believed in
3
: a termite or ant with a large head and jaws that is a member of a caste that protects the colony
soldierly
adjective
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share