paramilitary

American  

[par-uh-mil-i-ter-ee] / ˌpær əˈmɪl ɪˌtɛr i /

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.

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noun

plural

paramilitaries

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

paramilitary British  

/ 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

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noun

1. 1. a paramilitary force

   2. a member of such a force

Etymology

Origin of paramilitary

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

Example Sentences

Iraq still faces many challenges, not least sectarianism, paramilitaries and Iranian meddling.

From The Wall Street Journal

The U.S. also seized Iranian oil shipments in 2020 and 2023, saying they were benefiting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Tehran’s paramilitary organization.

From The Wall Street Journal

All were made into fast-moving films with military or paramilitary elements.

From The Wall Street Journal

The RSF also claimed control of Sudan's largest oil field, Heglig, in what the paramilitary group hailed as "a turning point for the liberation" of the country.

From BBC

Having joined the Nazi Party early on, Otto had once been considered for a role in Heinrich Himmler’s elite paramilitary group, the SS.

From The Wall Street Journal