Conscript
/kənˈskrɪpt/
nounverbB2
Definition
A conscript is a person who must join the military because the government says so. This is not a choice but a rule called conscription or a draft. When you conscript someone, you officially order them to serve in the army or armed forces, often during times of war or national emergency.
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⚡ See It in Action
A person who is forced by law to join the military
- •During the war, many young men were conscripts and had to leave their families.
- •The government announced a new conscript to increase the army size.
- •Conscripts often receive basic training before joining active military units.
The action of forcing people to join the military service
- •The country conscripted thousands of men when the war started.
- •They conscripted students to help with the defense effort.
- •Conscripting soldiers is a way for countries to quickly increase their army numbers.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "conscript" like "soldier," but a soldier who did not choose to join—they were told to join by the government
- ✓Picture a young person receiving a letter or call that says they must go to army training, even if they don’t want to
- ✓It's the feeling of being required to do something important but not by your own choice—like being called to help when you would rather not
- ✓Sounds like "con-SCRIPT" → imagine a script (a written paper) that commands you to join the army, like a story you must follow
- ✓In stories or history, conscripts are often young men taken from their homes to fight in wars they did not start
- ✓NOT like "volunteer" (someone who chooses freely), conscripts join because of a law or rule
- ✓NOT like "mercenary" (soldier for pay), conscripts serve because of obligation, not money
- ✓NOT like "recruit" (someone newly joined, often by choice), conscripts are forced to join
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Draft: the system or act of forcing military service (Use when talking about the process or law)
- •Recruit: a new soldier who joins, usually by choice (Use when someone joins voluntarily)
- •Enlist: to join the military voluntarily (Use when the person chooses to join)
- •Call up: to order someone to join the military (Use in informal or spoken contexts)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "con-" (together, with) + root "script" (write) → originally meaning "written together" or "written down"
- •Etymology: From Latin "conscribere," meaning "to write together" or "enroll," used historically for enrolling people in the army
- •Historical development: The word started meaning to write down names for military service; later it became the act of forcing people to join the army
- •Modern usage: Used mainly for people forced by law to join the military, especially during wars or national emergencies
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How do you think being a conscript might affect a person's feelings about war or their country?
•Can conscription be fair? What are the good and bad sides of forcing people to join the military?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.Many countries conscript young men during ___ to increase the number of soldiers.
2.A conscript usually does not join the army by choice but because of a ___.
3.Unlike volunteers, conscripts are ___ to serve in the military by law.
4.The government decided to conscript students, which caused ___ among families.
5.When someone is conscripted, they often receive basic military ___ before active duty.
6.The system that forces people to join the army is called the military ___.
7.A conscript is different from a recruit because a recruit usually ___ to join.