paramilitary

adjective

para·​mil·​i·​tary ˌper-ə-ˈmi-lə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce paramilitary (audio)
ˌpa-rə-
: of, relating to, being, or characteristic of a force formed on a military pattern especially as a potential auxiliary military force
a paramilitary border patrol
paramilitary training
paramilitary noun

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This term paramilitary can take in a wide range of organizations, but is usually applied to forces formed by a government. Groups opposing a government, even when organized along military lines, are more often referred to as guerrillas or insurgents. In countries with weak central governments (such as, in recent times, Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq, or Congo), warlords may form their own paramilitary forces and take over all local police and military functions. Paramilitary often has a sinister sound today, since it's also applied to groups of off-duty military or police personnel who carry out illegal violence, often at night, with the quiet support of a government.

Examples of paramilitary in a Sentence

Government forces have been attacked by heavily armed paramilitary groups in several villages.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 2018, the paramilitary People's Armed Police used dynamite and excavators to demolish a church in Linfen, Shanxi province, that served a congregation of 50,000. Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025 The strikes, launched by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces for the third day, attacked a terminal at the city's airport overnight on Tuesday. Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 6 May 2025 Sixteen members of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan were arrested on suspicion of manufacturing rockets and drones to be used inside or outside Jordan, and many experts suspect they could be affiliated with Hamas or the paramilitary group Hezbollah in Lebanon. Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 30 Apr. 2025 While China's claims overlap with those of several neighbors, Chinese coast guard patrols and paramilitary occupations of features within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone have led to dramatic standoffs and pushed the United States' treaty ally to pursue new weapons purchases. Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for paramilitary

Word History

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of paramilitary was in 1935

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Cite this Entry

“Paramilitary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paramilitary. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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