paramilitary

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

/ ˌpær əˈmɪl ɪˌtɛr i /

adjective

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 par·a·mil·i·tar·ies.

Also par·a·mil·i·ta·rist

[par-uh-mil-i-ter-ist] /ˌpær əˈmɪl ɪ tər ɪst/. a person employed in such a force.

Nearby words

Origin of paramilitary

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for paramilitary

I condemn this action from the viewpoint of the Guards and the [paramilitary] Basij.
Acid Attacks on Women Spread Terror in Iran|IranWire|October 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A paramilitary group he formed took credit last week for two gangland-style shootings of pro-Russian separatists.
Ukraine’s Chocolate King Wins|Jamie Dettmer|May 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The conflict is up close and personal for the paramilitary fighters.
Nigeria’s Do-It-Yourself Boko Haram Busters|Nina Strochlic|May 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The paramilitary right sector has de facto power at least in some Western Ukrainian regions, such as the Rivne and Volyn Regions.
Can Ukraine Control Its Far Right Ultranationalists?|Oleg Shynkarenko|March 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“This is a guy who runs a paramilitary operation,” Buono continued.
Christie Runs “Paramilitary Organization,” Says Democratic Ex-Foe After New Bridge Emails|Olivia Nuzzi|January 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Paramilitary programs of Party-sponsored youth organizations are similar in many ways to those in the school system.
Area Handbook for Albania|Eugene K. Keefe

British Dictionary definitions for paramilitary

paramilitary

/ (ˌpærəˈmɪlɪtərɪ, -trɪ) /

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

a paramilitary force
a member of such a force

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for paramilitary

paramilitary

adj.

1935, from para- (1) + military.