- militant (adj.)
- early 15c., "fighting, engaged in warfare," from Middle French militant "fighting," from Latin militantem (nominative militans), present participle of militare "serve as a soldier" (see militate), originally especially in Church militant. Related: Militantly.
- militant (n.)
- "one engaged in war or strife," c. 1600, from militant (adj.); in a political sense, it is attested by 1907.