conscripted
Americanadjective
-
drafted for military or naval service.
There was some discussion about which was better, an all-volunteer army or a conscripted army.
-
pressed or compelled into service.
Finally, I wish to acknowledge the hurriedly conscripted actors who worked hard under time pressure to make the play a success.
verb
Etymology
Origin of conscripted
First recorded in 1800–10; conscript ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. ) for the adjective senses; conscript ( def. ) + -ed 1 ( def. ) for the verb sense
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A full-size replica of a Spanish galleon stares out into Manila Bay, the centrepiece of a museum that will transport visitors back to the 17th century, when conscripted Philippine mariners hastened the era of globalisation.
From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026
"We are glad they are finally gone, because they ruled by fear," said 25-year-old Sonuram Gutta, who said he was conscripted into the insurgency, but was allowed to leave after a few years of fighting.
From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026
It’s a more straightforward presentation that keeps audience members in their seats, except for a moment when uprising is in the air and a few theatergoers are conscripted to join the ecstatic rebellion.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026
As a former career waiter, I say without hesitation that I would not want to go to war with a battalion of conscripted foodies.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 3, 2026
I thank God that Papa was too old to be conscripted into the army.
From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
