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.
This reconciliation effort fills that hole in our budget, allowing our armed forces to continue operating at the highest levels and deter our adversaries in the Middle East and around the globe.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
It comes as the MoD paid for the supply of 2,000 sets of new curved body armour plates for women in the Ukrainian armed forces.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Like other North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries, the U.K. has pledged to spend 3.5% of gross domestic product on its armed forces by 2035.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
Fedorov, 35, has been widely praised for energising the ministry and transforming the armed forces, as well as leading a drive against corruption.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
The armed forces of the United States are loaded with Texans and often dominated by Texans.
From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck
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.
