armed neutrality

American  

noun

1. military preparedness without commitment, especially as the expressed policy of a neutral nation in wartime; readiness to counter with force an invasion of rights by any belligerent power.

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Etymology

Origin of armed neutrality

First recorded in 1770–80

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

armed neutrality

"To achieve that, we must maintain credibility through perpetual armed neutrality," she insisted.

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

But they say it is critical to armed neutrality.

From New York Times ● Mar. 12, 2023

Opinion polls had shown the plan would easily win approval in a country where armed neutrality is a tradition, but only 50.2% of voters approved the funding in September.

From Reuters ● Jun. 30, 2021

At Tabatinga, five miles below Leticia on Brazilian soil, several thousand Brazilian troops maintained "armed neutrality" last week.

From Time Magazine Archive

I suspect he is rather afraid of me,—at least we maintain towards each other a kind of armed neutrality; but mamma will not suffer me to breathe a word against him.

From The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II by Charles James Lever

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