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
Two diplomats said the U.S. was not pushing a Russian demand to demilitarize Ukraine and was not opposed to a European force as part of future security guarantees for Ukraine.
—
Elizabeth Piper, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
Germany, obliged by history to demilitarize, but conscious that this posture has run its course, almost certainly holds the key to any such transformation.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 8 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for demilitarize
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Elizabeth Piper, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
Germany, obliged by history to demilitarize, but conscious that this posture has run its course, almost certainly holds the key to any such transformation.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 8 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for demilitarize
Cite this Entry
“Demilitarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demilitarize. Accessed 15 Jul. 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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