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

Ukraine’s General Staff said in a statement on Saturday that the fuel depot in Noginsk that was targeted overnight supplied the Russian armed forces. — ABC News, 18 July 2026

Ukraine’s General Staff said in a statement Saturday that the fuel depot in Noginsk that was targeted overnight supplied the Russian armed forces. — Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2026

Various branches of Ukraine’s armed forces have launched thousands of Fire Point drones and dozens of its missiles. — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

Llanas played high school baseball, then enlisted in the armed forces after graduating in 2001 and was deployed after the 9-11 attacks. — Cal Phillips july 17, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 July 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