1. A person or those who have enlisted to serve in the armed forces of a country: The soldiers stood at attention as their commanding officer entered the room.

When soldiers go into battle for their countries, they are usually in danger of being seriously wounded or being killed.

2. An active, loyal, or militant follower of an organization: The underlings of a crime syndicate are often referred to as soldiers.
3. Etymology: from Old French soudier, "someone who serves in the military for pay", from Medieval Latin (as written and spoken c.700-c.1500) soldarius, "a soldier", literally "someone receiving pay"; from Late Latin soldum, from Latin solidus, "a Roman gold coin" or the name of the gold coin used to pay soldiers who fought in the Roman army; literally, "solid coin".