militia

Meaning

Noun

• An army of trained civilians, which may be an official reserve army, called upon in time of need, the entire able-bodied population of a state which may also be called upon, or a private force not under government control.
• Synonym of militsia: the national police force of certain countries (e.g. Belarus).

Origin

• From Latin mīlitia ("army, military force/service"), from mīles. militsia.
• The use of "militia" rather than "police" to refer to the police force (of Belarus and some other countries) originated in the USSR.