paramilitary

[par-uh-mil-i-ter-ee]

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to an organization operating as, in place of, or as a supplement to a regular military force.

   a paramilitary police unit.

noun

plural

paramilitaries 

1. Also paramilitarist a person employed in such a force.

paramilitary

/ ˌpærəˈmɪlɪtərɪ, -trɪ /

adjective

1. denoting or relating to a group of personnel with military structure functioning either as a civil force or in support of military forces

2. denoting or relating to a force with military structure conducting armed operations against a ruling or occupying power

noun

1. 1. a paramilitary force

   2. a member of such a force

Word History and Origins

Origin of paramilitary¹

First recorded in 1930–35; para- ¹ + military

Example Sentences

After losing control of the capital Khartoum the paramilitaries have stepped up efforts to seize el-Fasher - the army's last stronghold in the western Darfur region.

From BBC

The prime minister has insisted new proposals for dealing with the legacy of the Troubles include protections for British Army veterans but not paramilitaries.

From BBC

She welcomed the Irish government's commitment to address legacy but criticised the closure of inquests and a lack of clarity on disclosure from paramilitary groups.

From BBC

The paramilitaries are gaining ground as they fight to seize complete control of el-Fasher - the last army stronghold in Darfur and home to more than 300,000 civilians who have been trapped by the fighting.

From BBC

Following the failure to set up devolved power, Mitchell acted as a facilitator to implement an inclusive power-sharing executive and the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons.

From BBC