military action

/ˌmɪləˈtɛri ˌækʃən/

Other forms: military actions

Definitions of military action

1. noun

   a military engagement
   synonyms: action

   types:

   amphibious landing

   a military action of coordinated land, sea, and air forces organized for an invasion

   battle, conflict, engagement, fight

   a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

   blockade, encirclement

   a war measure that isolates some area of importance to the enemy

   defence, defense, defensive measure

   (military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies

   EW, electronic warfare

   military action involving the use of electromagnetic energy to determine or exploit or reduce or prevent hostile use of the electromagnetic spectrum

   police action

   a local military action without declaration of war; against violators of international peace and order

   resistance

   the military action of resisting the enemy's advance

   saber rattling, sabre rattling

   the ostentatious display of military power (with the implied threat that it might be used)

   sally, sortie

   a military action in which besieged troops burst forth from their position

   war, warfare

   the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

   umbrella

   a formation of military planes maintained over ground operations or targets

   limited war

   a war whose objective is less than the unconditional defeat of the enemy

   psychological warfare, war of nerves

   the use of psychological tactics to destroy the opponents' morale

   Armageddon

   any catastrophically destructive battle

   pitched battle

   a fierce battle fought in close combat between troops in predetermined positions at a chosen time and place

   naval battle

   a pitched battle between naval fleets

   air defense

   defensive measures designed to destroy attacking enemy aircraft or missiles or to nullify their effectiveness

   stand

   a defensive effort

   hasty defence, hasty defense

   a defense organized while in contact with the enemy or when time is limited

   deliberate defence, deliberate defense

   a defense organized before contact is made with the enemy and while time for organization is available; usually includes a fortified zone (with pillboxes) and communication systems

   biodefence, biodefense, biological defence, biological defense

   procedures involved in taking defensive measures against attacks using biological agents

   chemical defence, chemical defense

   procedures involved in taking defensive measures against attacks using chemical agents

   minelaying, mining

   laying explosive mines in concealed places to destroy enemy personnel and equipment

   civil war

   a war between factions in the same country

   armed combat, combat

   an engagement fought between two military forces

   chemical operations, chemical warfare

   warfare using chemical agents to kill or injure or incapacitate the enemy

   BW, bioattack, biologic attack, biological attack, biological warfare

   the use of bacteria or viruses or toxins to destroy men and animals or food

   BW defence, BW defense, biological warfare defence, biological warfare defense

   defense against biological warfare

   dogfight

   an aerial engagement between fighter planes

   assault

   close fighting during the culmination of a military attack

   ECM, electronic countermeasures

   electronic warfare undertaken to prevent or reduce an enemy's effective use of the electromagnetic spectrum

   ECCM, electronic counter-countermeasures

   electronic warfare undertaken to insure effective friendly use of the electromagnetic spectrum in spite of the enemy's use of electronic warfare

   ESM, electronic warfare-support measures

   electronic warfare undertaken under direct control of an operational commander to locate sources of radiated electromagnetic energy for the purpose of immediate threat recognition

   electromagnetic intrusion

   the deliberate insertion of electromagnetic energy into transmission paths with the objective of confusing or deceiving operators

   IW, information warfare

   the use of information or information technology during a time of crisis or conflict to achieve or promote specific objectives over a specific adversary or adversaries

   international jihad, jehad, jihad

   a holy war waged by Muslims against infidels

   world war

   a war in which the major nations of the world are involved

   naval blockade

   the interdiction of a nation's lines of communication at sea by the use of naval power

   beleaguering, besieging, military blockade, siege

   the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack

   hot war

   actual fighting between the warring parties

   total war

   military conflict with no restrictions on targets, weapons, or use of military or civilian resources

   type of:

   group action

   action taken by a group of people