conscription
noun [uncountable] (especially British English)(US English usually the draft)
- conscription (of somebody) (into something)
the practice of ordering people by law to join the armed forces 征募；征兵 the forced conscription of boys into the army 强征男青年服兵役
Culture national servicenational serviceConscription (= compulsory service in the armed forces) was introduced in Britain in the First World War and again in 1939. It continued long after the end of World War Two under the name national service. During the world wars, all men between the ages of 18 and 41 were likely to be called up to join the armed forces, unless they were medically unfit or were working in a reserved occupation (= an important job). Many women were called up to serve in industry or work on farms as ‘land girls’. Conscientious objectors (= people who did not want to join the armed forces for moral or religious reasons) were at first the target of public insults, but later established a role for themselves in caring for the wounded.After 1948 men between the ages of 19 and 25 were expected to serve 18 months (increased to two years in 1950) in the services, and were often based outside Britain. This was not popular with most young men, and national service was ended in 1960. Since then, Britain has depended on volunteers to join the services. Some young people join an Officers' Training Corps while at school or university, or become members of the Territorial Army. From time to time politicians and others call for national service to be introduced again, believing that military life is a good way to encourage discipline among young people.In the US national service is called selective service or conscription, but its popular name is the draft. It was first introduced during the Civil War by both the North and the Confederate States, and was not popular. One reason for this was that anyone could avoid service if he paid money ($300), or hired somebody to replace him. This led to draft riots by poor people in New York City, and almost 1 000 African Americans and others were killed.The US next used conscription during the First World War and 10 million men put their names on the draft list. America's first conscription when the country was not itself at war began in 1940 when Europe was fighting in World War Two. A man could receive an exemption (= avoid service) for physical or mental reasons, or because he had an important job. There were also some conscientious objectors who had to take jobs provided by the government.The draft was stopped in 1947 but started again a year later, and men aged 18–25 had to serve 21 months. This supplied soldiers for the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Many young men did not want to fight in Vietnam and some tried to stay in college and university because students did not have to go. Draft dodgers (= people who avoided the draft) sometimes burned their draft cards or went abroad. Conscription was finally ended in 1973 but although the draft has ended, all men must put their names on the selective service list when they become 18 in case there is a national emergency.Extra ExamplesTopics War and conflictc2He injured himself to avoid conscription. 他自伤以逃避服兵役。 his decision to institute military conscription 他决定征兵
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- universal
- military
- compulsory
- …
- introduce
- abolish
- end
- …
Word Originearly 19th cent.: via French (conscription was introduced in France in 1798), from late Latin conscriptio(n-) ‘levying of troops’, from Latin conscribere ‘write down together, enrol’, from con- ‘together’ + scribere ‘write’.