demilitarize
Americanverb (used with object)
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to deprive of military character; free from militarism.
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to place under civil instead of military control.
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to forbid military use of (a border zone).
verb
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to remove any military presence or function in (an area)
demilitarized zone
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to free of military character, purpose, etc
11 regiments were demilitarized
Other Word Forms
- demilitarization noun
Etymology
Origin of demilitarize
First recorded in 1880–85; de- + militarize
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.
Morgenthau’s plan to demilitarize and deindustrialize Germany was seized upon by the failing Nazi regime as a propaganda tool, and the Truman administration ultimately rejected it.
From Salon • Mar. 25, 2026
Lebanese officials say they are on pace to demilitarize southern Lebanon as part of the agreement that halted hostility between Israel and Hezbollah in late 2024.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 29, 2025
It’s what Camden, N.J., did when it famously dissolved its police force and started over to both reform it and demilitarize it.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 13, 2023
The question is, how can antagonistic nations demilitarize safely, without raising the risk of preemptive attacks?
From Scientific American • Sep. 28, 2022
Ukraine's top priority was to demilitarize the plant and the surrounding area, which has seen increased shelling in recent weeks, to avoid a nuclear accident, he said.
From Reuters • Sep. 1, 2022
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.
