paramilitary
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
-
denoting or relating to a group of personnel with military structure functioning either as a civil force or in support of military forces
-
denoting or relating to a force with military structure conducting armed operations against a ruling or occupying power
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of paramilitary
Explanation
A group that's described as being paramilitary resembles an organized army. During the American Revolutionary War, the minutemen were a paramilitary group that fought in the earliest battles. When civilians organize themselves (or are organized) into a group that appears to be military, or that assists actual military troops, that's a paramilitary organization. You can also call it, simply, a paramilitary. The early twentieth century word combines the prefix para-, "near" or "resembling," and military, from its Latin root militaris, "of soldiers or war."
Vocabulary lists containing paramilitary
Fighting Words: Belli and Milit
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bel and milit
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bel and milit
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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.
NEW DELHI—The security detail involves helicopters, air force jets and paramilitary escorts.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 20, 2026
Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson also said "it's not loyalist paramilitary organisations" behind this week's disorder.
From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026
Hazzard said there is "no place for masked men, paramilitary style face coverings in broad daylight".
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
Some clients have accused him of stealing their money, an assertion backed by a lawyer for paramilitary commanders.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026
A black paramilitary beret with black glasses and a little fledgling soul patch.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
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.
