Conscription
/kənˈskrɪpʃən/
nounB2
Definition
Conscription means a government rule that makes certain people, often young adults, join the military service. It is usually used when a country needs more soldiers quickly, like during a war. People do not choose this; it is required by law.
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See It in Action
The system or law that forces people to join the military
- •During the war, conscription was used to increase the number of soldiers.
- •Many countries have conscription during times of emergency.
- •He was called up by conscription at the age of 18.
The act of selecting people for military service by law
- •The government announced new conscription rules last year.
- •Conscription can cause protests when people do not want to serve.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "conscription" like "army" (A1 word), but it means you must join the army, not just go if you want
- ✓Picture a list with names, and those people have to go to military training even if they don’t want to
- ✓It feels like being called by a serious letter that says you have no choice but to serve your country
- ✓Sounds like "con-SCRIPT-shun" → imagine a "script" or play where you must act, but here you must serve in the army
- ✓Think of stories or movies where young people get a letter telling them to join the army suddenly
- ✓NOT like "volunteer" (choose to join), conscription means you do it because the law says so
- ✓NOT like "draft" in American English, but it means the same thing (draft is a simpler word)
- ✓NOT like "enlist" which can be voluntary, conscription is forced by law
Try Other Words
- •Draft: law requiring military service (Use in everyday conversation, especially in the US)
- •Military service: general term for time spent in the army (Use when not focusing on the forced part)
- •Call-up: official order to join the army (Use when emphasizing the action of being summoned)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "con-" (together, with) + "script" (write) + "-ion" (noun suffix)
- •Etymology: From Latin "conscribere," meaning "to write together," originally meaning to write names on a list for army service
- •Historical development: Used since ancient times when governments wrote names of men to join armies; became formal law in modern states
- •Modern usage: Used to describe forced military service in many countries, especially during wars or emergencies
- •Key insight: It is about being officially "written down" or registered to serve in the military by law
Reflect & Connect
•How might conscription affect a young person’s life and future plans?
•What are the possible reasons a country might need to use conscription instead of volunteers?
Fill in the blanks
1.Conscription forces people to ___ in the military even if they do not want to.
2.During war, governments use conscription to ___ the number of soldiers quickly.
3.Unlike volunteering, conscription is a ___, so people must obey the law.
4.When conscription is announced, many young people feel ___ about losing their freedom.
5.The government sends a letter called a ___ to inform people about conscription.
6.Some countries have conscription only during ___ or emergencies.
7.Conscription is different from enlistment because enlistment is usually ___, but conscription is required by law.