armed forces
Americanplural noun
plural noun
Etymology
Origin of armed forces
First recorded in 1685–95
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For Myanmar's armed forces, "the PDFs are a nuisance, but they are not a major strategic threat", said Morgan Michaels, research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
One of the affected provinces is South Kivu, which has seen clashes between the Congolese armed forces and the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group.
From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026
The plan prioritises spending on the UK's nuclear deterrent and a transition towards greater use of drones and other unmanned systems in the armed forces.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
Large systems that need to integrate armed forces across the continent, like intelligence, communications and reconnaissance capabilities, could also be at risk of losing out.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
“A revolutionary council of the armed forces has been established, and our watan will now be known as the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan,” Abdul Qader said.
From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
