draft-card

A young man receives his draft-card in the mail.

Definition

Noun (primarily US, military): A draft card is an official document issued to individuals, especially men of a certain age, indicating their registration for compulsory military service (the draft). It serves as proof that the person has registered and may be required to be carried at all times.

Usage Examples

• (He destroyed his registration document as an act of defiance.)
• (The official document for military registration had to be kept on one's person.)
• (Misplacing the registration document was a serious offense.)

Advanced Usage

• "to tear up one's draft-card": to publicly destroy the card as a symbolic act of resistance to military conscription.
  • Many activists tore up their draft-cards in front of television cameras. (They destroyed the documents to show opposition to the draft.)
• "draft-card burning": a form of protest where individuals set fire to their registration documents.
  • Draft-card burning became a common anti-war demonstration in the 1960s. (The act of burning the card was used to protest military service.)

Variants and Related Words

• Draft (n): the system of compulsory military service.
  • The draft was abolished in the United States in 1973. (The mandatory military service system was ended.)
• Draft dodger (n): a person who avoids compulsory military service, often by leaving the country or failing to register.
  • He was labeled a draft dodger after moving to Canada. (He avoided the draft by relocating.)
• Draft board (n): a local committee responsible for administering the draft.
  • The draft board reviewed his exemption request. (The committee handling conscription evaluated his case.)

Synonyms

• Registration card: any official document used to record a person's enrollment for a specific purpose.
  • He kept his registration card in a safe place. (A general term for a document showing enrollment.)
• Selective Service card: a specific term for the US draft registration document.
  • His Selective Service card was issued when he turned 18. (The official name for the draft-card in the US.)

Related Idioms

• "Draft-card in hand": being prepared for or subject to military conscription.
  • With his draft-card in hand, he reported for basic training. (He was ready and obligated to serve.)
• "Burning your draft-card": a metaphor for openly defying authority or a system.
  • By quitting his job, he was essentially burning his draft-card. (He was making a bold, rebellious statement.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Draft into: to force someone into a role or situation, especially through conscription.
  • He was drafted into the army against his will. (He was compelled to join the military.)
• Draft up: to prepare a written document, such as a plan or list.
  • They drafted up a list of eligible men for the draft. (They created a document listing those subject to conscription.)