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.
In April 2025, the governor of Nigeria's embattled Borno state, Babagana Zulum, alleged that informants and collaborators for Boko Haram insurgents were operating within the country's armed forces, political class and local communities.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
The pair were set to visit a British naval base and hear from both countries' armed forces personnel involved in training Ukrainian service members for battle, Burnham's Downing Street office announced late Sunday.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
Thousands of the jammers have already been gifted to Kyiv to help its armed forces maintain drone operations, according to London.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
Last week's removal of Fedorov - who is praised for transforming the armed forces - triggered mass protests.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
Even to this day, the USO provides live entertainment, like music and comedy, for members of the armed forces and their families.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
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.
