conscript
gb/kˈɑnskɹˌɪpt/ us/kˈɑnskɹˌɪpt/
C1
English
sorkatona, besoroz, befog, sorozott
NOUN
C1
1
sorkatona
B2
Usage pattern:
a conscript; [number] conscripts
The army sent thousands of young conscripts to the border.
A hadsereg több ezer fiatal sorkatonát küldött a határra.
Many conscripts serve for only a year before returning to civilian life.
Sok sorkatona csak egy évig szolgál, mielőtt visszatér a civil életbe.
The report said that poorly trained conscripts had been deployed with little equipment.
Learner examples
He was a conscript, not a volunteer.
Ő sorkatona volt, nem önkéntes.
The country has many young conscripts in the army.
Az ország hadseregében sok fiatal sorkatona szolgál.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse a conscript with any recruit; recruits may be volunteers, but conscripts are forced or legally required to serve.
Meaning
forced military recruit
Collocations
young conscripts
|army conscripts
|military conscripts
|new conscripts
|raw conscripts
|reluctant conscripts
|train conscripts
|send conscripts
|conscript soldiers
Synonyms
draftee (Especially common in American English; emphasizes being drafted into military service.)
|
recruit (Broader term; a recruit may be a volunteer or a conscript.)
|
military recruit (More general and descriptive.)
Antonyms
volunteer (A person who joins by choice.)
|
professional soldier (A career soldier rather than someone serving under compulsory service.)
Themes
military
|government
|law
Definition
Someone who must join the army or another armed service because the law says so.
A person who is required by law to serve in the armed forces.
VERB
C1
2
besoroz
B2
Usage pattern:
conscript [someone] into [the army/the armed forces]; be conscripted
He was conscripted into the army at the age of nineteen.
Tizenkilenc éves korában besorozták a hadseregbe.
The government began conscripting men as the war expanded.
A kormány, ahogy a háború kiszélesedett, elkezdte besorozni a férfiakat.
Thousands of civilians were forcibly conscripted during the conflict.
Learner examples
My grandfather was conscripted during the war.
A nagyapámat besorozták a háború alatt.
The state can conscript people for military service.
Az állam katonai szolgálatra besorozhat embereket.
Common mistake:
In American English, draft is more common for this meaning; conscript is often used in international, historical, or formal contexts.
Meaning
force into military service
Collocations
conscript young men
|conscript civilians
|be conscripted into the army
|be conscripted for military service
|forcibly conscripted
|eligible to be conscripted
|conscript soldiers
|conscript troops
Synonyms
draft (Especially American English; common for an official military call-up.)
|
call up (Means officially order someone to report for service; often used in military contexts.)
|
press-gang (More historical or informal; suggests force or coercion.)
Antonyms
exempt (To officially free someone from compulsory service.)
|
release (To let someone leave service or duty.)
|
demobilize (To release troops from military service after a conflict or operation.)
Themes
military
|government
|law
Definition
To make someone join the army or another armed service because the law requires it.
To require someone by law to serve in the armed forces.
VERB
C1
3
befog
B2
Usage pattern:
conscript [someone] to do [something]; conscript [someone/something] into [a task/use/service]; conscript [something] as [something]
I was conscripted to help serve drinks at the party.
Befogtak, hogy segítsek italt felszolgálni a bulin.
The campaign conscripted local celebrities as spokespeople.
A kampány helyi hírességeket fogott be szóvivőnek.
When the office flooded, we conscripted the conference room as a temporary workspace.
Learner examples
She conscripted her brother to carry the boxes.
Befogta a testvérét, hogy cipelje a dobozokat.
We conscripted the kitchen table as a desk.
A konyhaasztalt íróasztalnak fogtuk be.
Common mistake:
Do not use conscript for ordinary hiring or inviting; it suggests pressure, obligation, or a lack of choice.
Meaning
force into a task
Collocations
be conscripted to help
|conscript volunteers
|conscript staff
|conscript friends and family
|conscripted into service
|conscripted as a helper
|conscript an old room as an office
|conscript local leaders
Synonyms
recruit (Less forceful; may suggest willing participation.)
|
press (Emphasizes pressure or urgency.)
|
dragoon (More formal or literary; strongly suggests forcing someone to do something.)
Antonyms
spare (To avoid making someone do the task.)
|
exclude (To leave someone or something out of an activity.)
|
release (To free someone from an obligation or task.)
Themes
work
|social_life
|figurative_language
Definition
To make someone help with something, or to use something for a job, often because you have no better choice.
To make someone take part in an activity or do a job, usually without giving them much choice; also, to use something for a purpose it was not originally intended for.
C1
FORMAL
4
sorozott
B2
Usage pattern:
conscript [soldiers/army/labor]
The country still relies on a large conscript army.
Az ország továbbra is egy nagy sorozott hadseregre támaszkodik.
Conscript soldiers usually serve for a fixed period before returning home.
A sorozott katonák általában meghatározott ideig szolgálnak, mielőtt hazatérnek.
The reforms reduced the size of the conscript force.
Learner examples
They have a conscript army.
Sorozott hadseregük van.
Conscript soldiers do not choose to join.
A sorozott katonák nem önként vonulnak be.
Common mistake:
The adjective conscript is mainly used before a noun. After be, conscripted is usually more natural: They were conscripted, not usually They were conscript.
Meaning
serving by compulsion
Collocations
conscript soldiers
|conscript troops
|conscript army
|conscript force
|conscript labor
|conscript service
Synonyms
conscripted (More common as a participle or adjective after be, as in soldiers were conscripted.)
|
drafted (Especially American English; often used of people called into military service.)
|
compulsory (Describes the service or system rather than the individual person.)
Antonyms
voluntary (Done or joined by choice.)
|
volunteer (Used before nouns such as army or force to mean made up of volunteers.)
|
professional (Describes career military forces rather than compulsory-service forces.)
Themes
military
|government
|law
Definition
Used before a noun to describe soldiers or workers who have been forced or legally required to serve.
Required to serve, especially in the armed forces, rather than serving voluntarily; made up of people required to serve.
Grammar
Dictionary form
conscript
IPA
GB/kˈɑnskɹˌɪpt/
US/kˈɑnskɹˌɪpt/
Syllables & stress
con - script (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (con)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: conscript
- Plural: conscripts
Verb
- Base: conscript
- 3rd Person Singular: conscripts
- Present Participle: conscripting
- Past: conscripted
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.