demilitarize

American  

[dee-mil-i-tuh-rahyz] / diˈmɪl ɪ təˌraɪz /

especially British, demilitarise

verb (used with object)

demilitarized, demilitarizing

1. to deprive of military character; free from militarism.

2. to place under civil instead of military control.

3. to forbid military use of (a border zone).

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demilitarize British  

/ diːˈmɪlɪtəˌraɪz /

verb

1. to remove any military presence or function in (an area)

   demilitarized zone

2. to free of military character, purpose, etc

   11 regiments were demilitarized

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Other Word Forms

• demilitarization
  noun

Etymology

Origin of demilitarize

First recorded in 1880–85; de- + militarize

Explanation

To demilitarize is to remove all armed forces from an area. When a country brings its troops home at the end of a war, they demilitarize the region. When a government removes its military forces, it demilitarizes the area those troops once occupied. This can happen because a conflict has ended, or for political or financial reasons. Removing military-grade weapons is also known as demilitarizing. If you retrofitted an old Army tank to be a food truck, you'd need to demilitarize it first. Demilitarize is made up of the prefix de-, or "not," and militarize, from the Latin militaris, "warlike."

Related Words

• deactivate
• demobilize
• disband
• neutralize
• occupy
• subdue