demilitarize
verb
de·mil·i·ta·rize
(ˌ)dē-ˈmi-lə-tə-ˌrīz 
di-
demilitarized; demilitarizing; demilitarizes
1
a
: to do away with the military organization or potential of
b
: to prohibit (something, such as a zone or frontier area) from being used for military purposes
2
: to rid of military characteristics or uses
Examples of demilitarize in a Sentence
the two nations agreed to demilitarize themselves reciprocally in hopes of avoiding war
Recent Examples on the Web
Egypt considered Israel to have breached the limits of military presence near areas demilitarized under the treaty, raising tensions.
—
John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Ukraine and European allies stressed that Kyiv must have the ability to adequately equip and man its own army, but Putin would have to concede on his goal of demilitarizing Ukraine.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Similarly, pausing attacks on energy infrastructure is clearly more advantageous to Russia, as is demilitarizing the Black Sea, given Russia’s dependence on the waterway and the Russian Navy’s extreme – and one-sided – vulnerability to Ukrainian attacks.
—Douglas Schoen, Orange County Register, 20 Mar. 2025
The outcome that Putin wants would be a Ukraine that is permanently stripped of almost 25 percent of its territory, demilitarized, and barred from joining the EU and NATO.
—Stephen Hadley, Foreign Affairs, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demilitarize
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John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Ukraine and European allies stressed that Kyiv must have the ability to adequately equip and man its own army, but Putin would have to concede on his goal of demilitarizing Ukraine.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Similarly, pausing attacks on energy infrastructure is clearly more advantageous to Russia, as is demilitarizing the Black Sea, given Russia’s dependence on the waterway and the Russian Navy’s extreme – and one-sided – vulnerability to Ukrainian attacks.
—Douglas Schoen, Orange County Register, 20 Mar. 2025
The outcome that Putin wants would be a Ukraine that is permanently stripped of almost 25 percent of its territory, demilitarized, and barred from joining the EU and NATO.
—Stephen Hadley, Foreign Affairs, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demilitarize
Cite this Entry
“Demilitarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demilitarize. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
demilitarize
verb
de·mil·i·ta·rize
(ˈ)dē-ˈmil-ə-tə-ˌrīz
: to strip of military forces, weapons, or fortification
a demilitarized zone
demilitarization
noun
(ˌ)dē-ˌmil-ə-tə-rə-ˈzā-shən
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