militans

Militans is the Latin present participle meaning "fighting" or "militating." It is formed from the verb militare (to wage war) and is used in Latin texts to describe someone who wages war or engages in combat. In modern English, the form is rarely used alone; the usual equivalents are militant (adjective) and militants (noun). Militans survives primarily in scholarly or liturgical Latin phrases rather than as a common English word.

Across ecclesiastical usage, the phrase Ecclesia militans, the Church Militant, describes the faithful on earth who strive against sin and temptation. This concept sits within a traditional triad that also includes the Church Suffering (the souls in purgatory) and the Church Triumphant (the heavenly hosts).

In secular usage, militans may appear in Latin-leaning discussions of military or political action. In English, the concept is typically rendered as militant or militants; militans is usually found in historical, doctrinal, or linguistics contexts. The sense remains close to "one who fights" or "one engaged in armed or militant activity," but its use is largely stylistic or contextual rather than standard modern vocabulary.

Related terms include Church Militant (Ecclesia militans), militancy, and militant.