soldier

soldier — noun

1. someone whose job is to be a member of a national fighting force, trained to use

1.nounA2
Definition

someone whose job is to be a member of a national fighting force, trained to use weapons and to fight in battles when ordered

Example

Walid joined the army as a soldier right after finishing high school.

joined the army as a soldier

The soldiers marched through the dusty streets of the old town at dawn.

Common collocations
  • army soldier
  • fellow soldier
  • soldier in uniform
  • soldier at war
  • professional soldier
Synonyms
  • service member

    broader term covering all military branches, not just army

  • warrior

    more literary or historical; suggests skill and bravery but is not an official rank or job title

  • fighter

    general term for someone who engages in combat; less formal and not specific to armies

Antonyms
  • civilian

    a person not in the armed forces

Grammar Patterns

soldier + in/with [army/unit]

Usage Note

Frequently paired with branch-of-service nouns: army soldier, infantry soldier, child soldier. The word typically refers to non-officer ranks, though it can be used generically for all military personnel.

Common Mistakes

The soldier fought in the battlefield.
The soldier fought on the battlefield.
the correct preposition is 'on', not 'in'.
He is a soldier of the army.
He is a soldier in the army.
'in' is the standard preposition for which army one belongs to.

2. a thin rectangular piece of toasted bread that is cut long and narrow so it can

2.nounB1
Definition

a thin rectangular piece of toasted bread that is cut long and narrow so it can be dipped into the soft centre of a cooked egg with a runny yolk

Example

Gita cut the toast into thin soldiers to dip into her soft-boiled egg.

cut into soldiers

The children laughed as they dipped their egg soldiers into the runny golden yolk.

Common collocations
  • egg soldiers
  • toast soldiers
  • dip soldiers
  • cut into soldiers
Synonyms
  • toast strip

    descriptive term without the playful 'soldier' name; neutral register

Grammar Patterns

soldier(s) of/from toast

cut into soldiers

Usage Note

Exclusively British English usage in the context of breakfast. The term is almost always plural (soldiers) when referring to the bread strips. Not used for other dipping scenarios.

Common Mistakes

I made some soldiers for my soup.
I made some soldiers for my boiled egg.
soldiers are specifically for dipping into boiled eggs, not other foods.

3. an ant or termite that belongs to a group whose members have oversized heads fit

3.nounC1
Definition

an ant or termite that belongs to a group whose members have oversized heads fitted with strong biting mouthparts, and whose role is to guard the colony from danger

Example

A soldier ant uses its powerful jaws to block the narrow entrance of the nest.

soldier ant uses jaws to block entrance

Unlike worker ants, soldier ants have much larger heads and stronger mandibles.

Common collocations
  • soldier ant
  • soldier termite
  • soldier caste
  • soldier morph
Synonyms
  • major worker

    alternative scientific term; some researchers avoid 'soldier' for ants and use this instead

Antonyms
  • worker

    a colony member that gathers food and builds rather than fights

Grammar Patterns

soldier + ant/termite

soldier caste

Usage Note

Common in biology and entomology texts. The term distinguishes this caste from workers (which forage and build) and reproductives (which breed). Not used for all ant species — some colonies lack a distinct soldier caste.

soldier — verb

Word family

  • soldierly
    adjectiveC1
  • soldiery
    nounC2
  • soldiering
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Soldier is the standard, neutral term for a person serving in an army, especially one below officer rank. Warrior carries a more literary or historical flavour — it evokes ancient combat, personal bravery, and a cultural identity (e.g., 'a Samurai warrior' or 'a Zulu warrior') rather than a modern job title. Fighter is broader and less formal: it can refer to anyone engaged in combat, including boxers, resistance fighters, or even animals. Service member is the official bureaucratic term used by modern militaries to include all branches (army, navy, air force) and all ranks. For everyday contexts, 'soldier' is the safest choice: 'My cousin is a soldier in the army.' Use 'warrior' for epic or historical settings, 'fighter' for general combatants, and 'service member' for formal or institutional writing.

soldier ↗warrior ↗fighter ↗service member

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • as a soldier
  • like a soldier

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'soldier' entered English in the 13th century from Old French 'soudier,' meaning 'one who serves in the army for pay.' The French word comes from 'soude' (pay), which traces back to Latin 'solidus,' a gold coin used to pay Roman soldiers. The original sense of 'paid fighter' is a reminder that soldiering has always been a profession, not just a calling.