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conscription

noun
con·​scrip·​tion | \ kən-ˈskrip-shən How to pronounce conscription (audio) \

Definition of conscription

: compulsory enrollment of persons especially for military service : draft During the war the armed forces were heavily dependent on conscription.
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Did You Know?

With its scrip- root, conscription means basically writing someone's name on a list—a list that, unfortunately, a lot of people usually don't want to be on. Conscription has existed at least since ancient Egypt's Old Kingdom (27th century B.C.), though universal conscription has been rare throughout history. Forms of conscription were used by Prussia, Switzerland, Russia, and other European powers in the 17th and 18th centuries. In the U.S., conscription was first applied during the Civil War, by both the North and the South. In the North there were pockets of resistance, and the draft led to riots in several cities. The U.S. abandoned conscription at the end of the war and didn't revive it until World War I.

Examples of conscription in a Sentence

young people who face conscription into the army

Recent Examples on the Web

 Sweden has reinstated selective conscription to beef up its active-duty forces, as has Lithuania. — Elisabeth Braw, WSJ, "Europe Takes a Second Look at Conscription," 26 Aug. 2018 The same is true of Eritrea where the one-party state of president Isaias Afwerki has overseen a notorious national conscription service likened to slavery, contributing to the wave of refugees fleeing the country. — Abdi Latif Dahir, Quartz Africa, "Why these African countries are defending China’s mass detention of Muslims," 15 July 2019 In recent weeks residents of Asmara have woken up to fresh graffiti calling for an end to conscription. — The Economist, "Eritrea’s gulag state is crumbling," 11 July 2019 But there are no signs that Issaias will end conscription entirely. — The Economist, "Eritrea’s gulag state is crumbling," 11 July 2019 Those were all wars in which young men were subject to conscription. — Jeff Rice, Twin Cities, "Jeff Rice: I damaged the ROTC offices at Northwestern University. Here’s how — and why — I atone," 24 June 2019 The ultrareligious parties oppose conscription as an attempt to assimilate their cloistered communities by thrusting their young men into contact with secular life and values. — Washington Post, "How the battle of bra-baring waitresses and ultra-religious protesters explains Israel’s political crisis," 10 June 2019 The conscription issue has stoked the ire of many in the wider population who do not see these religious Jews as paying their way. — Washington Post, "How the battle of bra-baring waitresses and ultra-religious protesters explains Israel’s political crisis," 10 June 2019 Since the 1700s, the conservative sect has been on the move, skirting military conscription and mandated public education, while also seeking fertile land for farming. — Nina Strochlic, National Geographic, "An unlikely feud between beekeepers and Mennonites simmers in Mexico," 12 Apr. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'conscription.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of conscription

1800, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for conscription

see conscript entry 1

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More Definitions for conscription

conscription

noun
How to pronounce conscription (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of conscription

: the practice of ordering people by law to serve in the armed forces

See the full definition for conscription in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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