militancy
UK: ˈmɪl.ɪ.tən.si | US: ˈmɪl.ə.tən.si
n. the state or quality of being combative or aggressively active in support of a cause, often involving confrontational or radical methods.
militancy = militant<combative> + cy<noun suffix>
- militant: Derived from Latin militans (present participle of militare, "to serve as a soldier"), from miles ("soldier"). Retains the sense of aggressive action or advocacy.
- cy: A noun-forming suffix indicating a state or condition (e.g., "democracy," "accuracy").
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin militare ("to wage war"), reflecting a shift from literal soldiering to metaphorical combativeness in political or social movements. The suffix -cy abstracts the adjective "militant" into a noun denoting a persistent, confrontational stance.
The group's militancy alienated moderate supporters.
Her speech fueled the growing militancy among protesters.
The government condemned the militancy of the opposition.
Historical oppression often breeds militancy in marginalized communities.
The movement's militancy escalated into violent clashes.