Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense conscripts, present participle conscripting, past tense, past participle conscriptedpronunciation note: The noun is pronounced (kɒnskrɪpt). The verb is pronounced (kənskrɪpt).
1. countable noun
A conscript is a person who has been made to join the armed forces of a country.
2. verb [usually passive]
If someone is conscripted, they are officially made to join the armed forces of a country.
He was conscripted into the German army. [beVERB-ed + into]
Peter was conscripted like every other young man. [beVERB-ed]
conscript in British English
noun (ˈkɒnskrɪpt)
1.
a.
a person who is enrolled for compulsory military service
b.
(as modifier)
a conscript army
verb (kənˈskrɪpt)
2. (transitive)
to enrol (youths, civilians, etc) for compulsory military service
Word origin
C15: from Latin conscrīptus, past participle of conscrībere to write together in a list, enrol, from scrībere to write
conscript in American English
(kənˈskrɪpt; for adj. & n. ˈkɑnˌskrɪpt)
verb transitive US
1.
to enroll for compulsory service in the armed forces; draft
2.
to force (labor, capital, etc.) into service for the government
adjective
3.
conscripted
noun
4.
a conscripted person; draftee
Derived forms
conscription (conˈscription)
noun
Word origin
L conscriptus, pp. of conscribere, to enroll < com-, with + scribere, to write
Examples of 'conscript' in a sentence
conscript
The government conscripts had no fight left in them and they were sitting ducks.
Aidan Hartley THE ZANZIBAR CHEST: A Memoir of Love and War (2003)
More than half of these were conscripts performing national service.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We are talking here of young conscripts.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Leadership of an army conscripted through the draft called for junior officers of the highest quality.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Some were military conscripts, others military school students.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In Libya all men are conscripted for military service after school.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He was told that he would be conscripted in the army, fighting against his own people.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But he is conscripted into the army and sent to fight in France.
The Sun (2008)
The demonstrators were mostly schoolchildren given the day off, army conscripts and public employees encouraged to go on the march in their working hours.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Not until November 1944 were conscripts sent to fight overseas.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
Many farmers were conscripted into service, while others went into hiding, so food became scarce.
Christianity Today (2000)
In other languages
conscript
British English: conscript NOUN
A conscript is a person who has been made to join the armed forces of a country.
Most of the soldiers are reluctant conscripts.
American English: conscript
Brazilian Portuguese: recruta
Chinese: 被征入伍者
European Spanish: recluta
French: conscrit
German: Wehrpflichtige
Italian: coscritto
Japanese: 徴集兵
Korean: 징집병
European Portuguese: recruta
Latin American Spanish: recluta
British English: conscript VERB
If someone is conscripted, they are officially made to join the armed forces of a country.