paramilitary

adjective

para·​mil·​i·​tary ˌper-ə-ˈmi-lə-ˌter-ē 

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

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

Government forces have been attacked by heavily armed paramilitary groups in several villages.

Recent Examples on the Web

But the focus on civil war by paramilitary and anti-government groups has been particularly intense this year leading up to the election. —David Gilbert, WIRED, 4 Nov. 2024

The woman had previously been harassed by members of the Basij, an Iranian volunteer paramilitary group, inside the university’s grounds, according to an Iranian student social media channel, the Amir Kabir newsletter,. —Mohammed Tawfeeq, CNN, 3 Nov. 2024

Based on a real-life massacre in 1993 where Bosnian Muslims were removed from a train by the Serbian White Eagles, the story follows the one individual who attempted to stand up to the paramilitary group. —Karen Idelson, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024

There are countless volunteer paramilitary groups in Ukraine that exist outside the formal military structure. —David Axe, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined above