military-industrial complex

American  

[mil-i-ter-ee-in-duhs-tree-uhl] / ˈmɪl ɪˌtɛr i ɪnˈdʌs tri əl /

noun

1. a network of a nation's military force together with all of the industries that support it.

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military-industrial complex British  

noun

1. (in the US) the combined interests of the military establishment and industries involved in producing military material considered as exerting influence on US foreign and economic policy

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military-industrial complex Cultural  

1. A general term for the cooperative relationship between the military and the industrial producers of military equipment and supplies in lobbying for increased spending on military programs.

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In his farewell address, President Dwight Eisenhower warned that the growth of this relationship would increase the militarization of American society and endanger the principles of democracy.

Etymology

Origin of military-industrial complex

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

"We will continue to take swift action to deprive those who enable Iran's military-industrial complex access to the US financial system," he added in a statement.

From Barron's • Dec. 30, 2025

The subjects we chewed over were almost exclusively technical topics, or history, or the sprawling, self-serving institution that Dwight Eisenhower christened the military-industrial complex.

From Salon • Oct. 20, 2024

That’s driven up wages in the military-industrial complex.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2024

Over the weekend, the Kremlin announced the appointment of a new defense minister — an economist, Andrei Belousov, who will be tasked with harnessing the power of Russia’s military-industrial complex to sustain the fight.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2024

President Dwight Eisenhower, in his farewell speech in January 1961, railed against the United States’ growing military-industrial complex.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly