disarmament

[ dis-ahr-muh-muhnt ]

noun

1. the act or an instance of disarming. disarming.
2. the reduction or limitation of the size, equipment, armament, etc., of the army, navy, or air force of a country.

disarmament

/ dɪsˈɑːməmənt /

noun

1. the reduction of offensive or defensive fighting capability, as by a nation
2. the act of disarming or state of being disarmed

Other Words From

• nondis·arma·ment noun
• prodis·arma·ment adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of disarmament¹

1785–95; disarm + -ament, after armament

Example Sentences

Michael Young, a Lebanon expert with the Carnegie Middle East Center, said those statements suggest that Israel plans that go beyond merely pushing Hezbollah back from the border — to its disarmament if not destruction.

From Los Angeles Times

If you stop lighting matches, that could be condemned as “unilateral disarmament.”

From Salon

These include the group’s retreat from a strip of Lebanon south of the Litani River and, in the long term, Hezbollah’s disarmament.

From BBC

Historian Lawrence S. Wittner, author of “Confronting the Bomb,” warned in July that “Trump was far less interested in arms control and disarmament than in entering ― and winning ― a new nuclear arms race.”

From Los Angeles Times

Plaid Cymru says it is opposed to nuclear weapons in principle and wants to support global disarmament.

From BBC

Related Words

• demilitarization
• demobilization