Jawan

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /d͡ʒəˈwɑːn/

Definitions

1. A young soldier or military recruit often serving in an army; a person who shows youthful vigor and dedication in armed service; a term used to refer to a member of armed forces usually of junior rank
2. An individual enlisted in the military typically characterized by youth and training; a committed member of soldiers often involved in national defense; a designation for young personnel in army ranks
3. A youthful army member often fulfilling duties assigned by military service; an enlistee embodying energy and learning in defense roles; a label for junior service members within military organizations

Etymology: In Classical Persian, "jawān" simply meant "young, a youth." The word descends from Middle Persian "ǰuwān," and it passed into Hindustani as "jvān" or "javān," which kept the sense of a young person. English borrowed it from Hindustani, where the meaning had narrowed to a young man serving as a soldier. English took it in that military sense, so a word that once meant only "youth" now names a young army recruit.

Synonyms: soldier, trooper, private, military personnel, fighter

Antonyms: civilian, noncombatant, civilian worker, peacekeeper, nonmilitary