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soldier

soldier

1.1
A person who serves in an army and fights for their country
  • noun
  • /ˈsoʊldʒər/
translation icon : soldado
  • The veteran shared stories from his days as a soldier during the war.
  • U.S. soldiers
  • soldiers and civilians
  • a professional soldier

How does the US military train soldiers for the battlefield?

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Examples

  • Once seen as the ideal male, the ambitious soldier is completely changed by the trauma of war.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Many privates, who comprised the majority of soldiers, signed their muster rolls with an "X."

    Academic text (2011)
  • Why should anyone be a regular soldier under such conditions?

  • First would come the roads, something soldiers knew all too well.

  • Even in war, it's the connection between soldiers that really matters.

  • You know what my life as a soldier has been.

  • The commanding officer reported that six Russian soldiers had been killed in the engagement.

    Academic text (2008)
  • At Fort Jefferson, three soldiers are caught trying to desert.

  • Again, not everyone's cut out to be a soldier, you know?

  • The U.S. has the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to recognize the missing in wars.

    Academic text (2008)

Synonyms

warfighter
vssoldier
  • Jargon
5 7.2

A person who fights in war or on military missions

is about routine army service below officer rank, not necessarily combat involvement
servicemember
vssoldier
3 3.4

A person who works in the army or navy and wears a uniform

is narrower, meaning those who serve in the army below officer rank
ranker
vssoldier
  • Archaic
1 8.6

A person who serves or served in the armed forces but is not an officer

is about a person currently serving in the army below officer rank
enlisted person
vssoldier
1 4.9

A member of the armed forces who is not an officer

is narrower, referring specifically to those serving in the army rather than any service

Idioms

An experienced person who uses skill and tricks to gain an advantage

Act in a proud, fake way to impress others

8.9

To stand very still and straight with a stiff body

Compounds

24 3.8

A person who fights on foot or does basic work for a group

A soldier who fought for the Southern states during the American Civil War

Union soldier
  • Archaic
6 4.1

A soldier who fought for the Union in the American Civil War

5 1.8

A small model of a soldier that children play with

4 6.3

A soldier who died in war whose name cannot be found and who stands for all war dead

A person who fights for money for other countries or groups

2 3.4

A small metal toy shaped like a soldier that children play with

A person in the army or marines with the lowest rank

Federal soldier
  • Archaic
1 5.8

A soldier who fought for the North in the American Civil War

A person who has served many years in the army and fought in wars

A soldier who fights on horseback

A person who follows Christian beliefs and helps people or defends those beliefs

A soldier from old Egypt who began life as a slave and later ruled

A large bright fish with spiny fins that lives on coral reefs in warm seas

How Experienced

veteran
355 3.3
sergeant
422 3.9
soldier
1.1
private
76 3.7
recruit
149 3.6

Surface Forms

soldier singular
soldiers plural

Etymology

Soldier comes from the old Latin word solidus, a Roman coin, so it originally meant a person who was 'paid' to fight. That's why a soldier today is someone who serves in an army.