military-industrial complex

noun

: an informal alliance of the military and related government departments with defense industries that is held to influence government policy

Examples of military-industrial complex in a Sentence

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Between 2022 and 2024, Moscow allocated at least $263 billion to defence outlays — approximately 7% of GDP annually — transforming a massive portion of its economy into a military-industrial complex on a scale that is unprecedented since the Cold War. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025 Sanctions could target foreign banks that process transactions related to Russia's military-industrial complex. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 15 Oct. 2025 Finally, there are penalties on Russian companies and banks, as well as Russia’s military-industrial complex. Mark Temnycky, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025 Buckley was heedless of President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s profound concern over a military-industrial complex pushing the nation into gratuitous wars for ulterior motives, i.e., money and power. Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for military-industrial complex

Word History

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of military-industrial complex was in 1961

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Cite this Entry

“Military-industrial complex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/military-industrial%20complex. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.

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