armed forces

plural noun

: the combined military, naval, and air forces of a nation

called also armed services

Synonyms of armed forces

• troops
• soldiers

Examples of armed forces in a Sentence

our nation's armed forces are stationed throughout the world

Recent Examples on the Web

The defense ministry in Sofia, Bulgaria's capital, said there were indications the drone was the kind used by Ukrainian armed forces and that the incident was likely accidental. — CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026

Russia’s defense ministry on Sunday claimed its overnight strikes hit drone warehouses in the Kharkiv region, as well as fuel depots and stores of other materiel belonging to Ukraine’s armed forces at the port of Odesa. — ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026

Rocket Lab The US Space Force – the youngest branch of the country's armed forces – is investing billions of dollars in next-gen tech to expand its threat detection capabilities. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 9 Aug. 2026

But Oleh’s transition did more or less coincide with the Russian invasion, which has severely hindered his ability to live freely and openly at a time when men are expected to serve their country in the armed forces. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for armed forces

• reinforces
• watercourses
• courses
• horses
• sources
• discourses
• divorces
• endorses
• enforces
• indorses
• racehorses
• workforces

Kids Definition

armed forces

plural noun

: the military, naval, and air forces of a nation