demilitarize

verb

de·​mil·​i·​ta·​rize (ˌ)dē-ˈmi-lə-tə-ˌrīz 

di-

demilitarized; demilitarizing; demilitarizes

transitive verb

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

demilitarization

(ˌ)dē-ˌmi-lə-t(ə-)rə-ˈzā-shən 

di-

noun

Synonyms

• disarm
• demobilize

Examples of demilitarize in a Sentence

the two nations agreed to demilitarize themselves reciprocally in hopes of avoiding war

Recent Examples on the Web

Europe is remilitarizing after decades of demilitarizing. —John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025

Later, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated his government's longstanding demands that Ukraine be demilitarized and stop trying to be allied with the West. —Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2025

This includes European troops on the ground in Ukraine and Zelenskyy's call for arms sales, which would contradict Putin's demands for Ukraine to demilitarize. Lawmakers in Texas and California are back to work in their state capitols as the battle to redistrict intensifies across the country. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 19 Aug. 2025

But even over and above that, multiple Arab governments are now demanding that Hamas demilitarizes. —Diane Brady, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for demilitarize

• contextualize
• industrialize
• materialise
• materialize
• memorialize
• microenterprise
• overemphasize
• particularize
• revolutionise
• revolutionize
• actualize
• antagonize

Kids 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

(ˌ)dē-ˌmil-ə-tə-rə-ˈzā-shən

noun