armed forces

plural noun

1. military, naval, and air forces, especially of a nation or of a number of nations.

armed forces

plural noun

1. the military forces of a nation or nations, including the army, navy, air force, marines, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of armed forces¹

First recorded in 1685–95

Example Sentences

We’ll probably never know, even when he becomes, once again, commander in chief and appoints his hand-picked loyalists to positions of power in the Pentagon and across the armed forces.

From Salon

But back in February, she was arrested and charged with spreading false information about the Russian armed forces.

From BBC

The county's armed forces have been accused of atrocities and extrajudicial killings.

From BBC

Mr Bennett was paralysed in 2018 after suffering a spinal cord injury, but said he still carried his experiences prior to leaving the armed forces in 1992.

From BBC

There were children and young people, from nine years old and upwards, who had lost a parent in the armed forces, brought together by the Scotty’s Little Soldiers charity.

From BBC

Related Words

• military
• troops