Militer

Militer is a French verb meaning to participate actively in political or social life by advocating for a cause or policy, or by belonging to a political organization or movement. It is commonly used with pour or au sein de to indicate the cause or group, as in militer pour les droits civiques or militer au sein d’un parti. The construction militer contre is also used to express opposition to a proposal or policy. The term often describes a citizen’s public engagement rather than mere passivity.

The sense of militer as political or civic engagement developed from the older, literal meaning related to military matters. The verb derives from the Latin militaris “military,” via Old French militer, and acquired a figurative use in which activism replaces battlefield action. Militing, in this sense, emphasizes organized advocacy, campaigning, and participation in collective movements.

In modern usage, militer is most common in political journalism and social discourse. It can convey a range of commitment levels, from casual involvement to formal membership in a movement or party. Related terms include militant (as an adjective or noun describing a person strongly committed to a cause) and s’engager, which similarly means to commit oneself to a cause, though with broader connotations than militer alone.

See also: political activism, campaign, militant, s’engager.