Definition of MARTIAL

martial

Plural: martials

Noun

  • Roman poet noted for epigrams (first century BC)
  • A soldier, a warrior.
  • A celestial object under the astrological influence of the planet Mars.
  • Synonym of Martian (“inhabitant of the planet Mars”).

Adjective Satellite

  • (of persons) befitting a warrior
  • suggesting war or military life
  • of or relating to the armed forces
    • "martial law"

Adj

  • Of, relating to, or suggestive of war; warlike.
  • Connected with or relating to armed forces or the profession of arms or military life.
  • Characteristic of or befitting a warrior; having a military bearing; soldierly.
  • Pertaining to the astrological influence of the planet Mars.
  • Of or relating to the planet Mars; Martian.
  • Containing, or relating to, iron (which was symbolically associated with the planet Mars by alchemists); chalybeate, ferric, ferrous.

Examples

  • "martial preparations martial flowers (a reddish crystalline salt of iron)"

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English martial, marcial, mercial, mercialle (“relating to war, warlike; military; for use in fighting or warfare; brave, hardy; combative, fierce; ruthless, vicious; domineering, overbearing”), from Middle French martial (modern French martial (“martial”)), or directly from its etymon Latin mārtiālis (“of or pertaining to Mars, the Roman god of war”), from Mārtius (“of or pertaining to Mars”) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship). The English word is cognate with Italian marziale (“martial”), Portuguese marcial (“martial”), Spanish marcial (“martial”).

Synonyms

Martian, soldierlike, soldierly, warlike, warriorlike

Scrabble Score: 9

martial is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
martial is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
martial is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 11

martial is a valid Words With Friends word