paramilitary
adjective
Did you know?
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
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
Despite his resolute disdain for the regime, at 14 years old he was required by law to join the Hitler Youth, a paramilitary organization.
—Gabriele Regalbuto, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Pakistan’s paramilitary soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint near Wahag, a joint border crossing point between the Pakistan and India border, Thursday, April 24, 2025.
—Time, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paramilitary
Cite this Entry
“Paramilitary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paramilitary. Accessed 15 May. 2025.
Copy Citation
Share