disarm

verb

dis·​arm dis-ˈärm 

diz-,

ˈdis-ˌärm

disarmed; disarming; disarms

transitive verb

1

a

: to deprive of means, reason, or disposition to be hostile

disarmed criticism by admitting her errors

b

: to win over

2

a

: to divest of arms

disarm captured troops

b

: to deprive of a means of attack or defense

disarm a ship

c

: to make harmless

disarm a bomb

intransitive verb

1

: to lay aside arms

2

: to give up or reduce armed forces

disarmament

ˌdis-ˈär-mə-mənt 

noun

disarmer noun

Synonyms

• demilitarize

Examples of disarm in a Sentence

The government has been unsuccessful at disarming the rebels.

The terrorists have refused to disarm.

It took more than an hour to disarm the bomb.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the runup to Oct. 7, 2023, UNIFIL once again proved incapable of delivering on its mission to disarm Hezbollah and keep the border quiet. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025

Use the Mode button to arm and disarm motion detection and create detection schedules. —PCMAG, 6 Feb. 2025

However, a parent tackled him and others helped disarm and detain the suspect. —David Matthews, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2025

Pasadena, Texas — A parent tackled a man who opened fire during a band competition at a Houston-area high school as several other people then helped disarm and detain him in a shooting that wounded one person, officials said. —CBS News, 3 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English desarmen, literally, to divest of arms, from Anglo-French desarmer, from des- dis- + armer to arm

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

disarm

verb

dis·​arm (ˈ)dis-ˈärm 

1

: to take weapons from

disarm a prisoner

2

: to reduce the size and strength of the armed forces of a country

3

: to make harmless, peaceable, or friendly : remove dislike or suspicion

a disarming smile

disarmament

-ˈär-mə-mənt 

noun