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

The move drew a rebuke from Diosdado Cabello, the interior minister and de facto leader of some of Venezuela’s paramilitary forces.

From The Wall Street Journal

Among them: top officers in China’s army, air force, navy, rocket force and paramilitary police, as well as major theater commands, including the one focused on Taiwan.

From The Wall Street Journal

He fears that Rodríguez might struggle to control the armed forces and paramilitary gangs.

From The Wall Street Journal

Agents existed in the IRA and in loyalist paramilitary groups.

From BBC

Prosecutors said the group -- whose initials SS match those of Adolf Hitler's paramilitary organisation the Schutzstaffel -- had procured fatigues, combat helmets, gas masks and bullet-proof vests.

From Barron's