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
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
Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
That’s why so many soldiers, CEOs, and high achievers eventually burn out or break down.
—Big Think, 29 Oct. 2025
Richard Obert, AZCentral.com, 9 Aug. 2025
On Tuesday, June 8, the death count rose to over 100 as rescue workers soldiered into a fifth day.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for soldier
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Lowry has been listed as a soldier missing in action (MIA) ever since.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
That’s why so many soldiers, CEOs, and high achievers eventually burn out or break down.
—Big Think, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
This is expected every August in Arizona as high school football teams soldier through excessive heat.
—Richard Obert, AZCentral.com, 9 Aug. 2025
On Tuesday, June 8, the death count rose to over 100 as rescue workers soldiered into a fifth day.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for soldier
Cite this Entry
“Soldier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soldier. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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