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Synonyms

armed forces

American  

plural noun

  1. military, naval, and air forces, especially of a nation or of a number of nations.


armed forces British  

plural noun

  1. the military forces of a nation or nations, including the army, navy, air force, marines, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

"The French authorities will continue to encourage our companies and our armed forces to seek out the ways and means to pursue ambitious European projects that are consistent with our national security interests."

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

But the shift has also raised concerns among some religious liberty advocates and observers who argue that the consolidation may obscure the diversity of belief systems within the armed forces.

From Salon • Jun. 6, 2026

The diversion request was granted last year after Perry argued that he suffers from mental health issues due to his time in the armed forces, Ilacqua said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

At the time, Castro - who stepped down as president in 2018 - was head of the country's armed forces.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

That man knew how hard the other armed forces had tried to terminate the Marines Corps, even while we did the hardest jobs on those islands.

From "Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two" by Joseph Bruchac

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