paramilitary

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

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.

noun

, plural par·a·mil·i·tar·ies.

1. Also par·a·mil·i·ta·rist [] a person employed in such a force.

paramilitary

/ 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

noun

1. 1. a paramilitary force
   2. a member of such a force

Word History and Origins

Origin of paramilitary¹

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

Example Sentences

Apparently supported by a paramilitary self-defence group, the men attacked the vehicle, removed two of the patients, took them outside hospital grounds and executed them.

From BBC

Members of the paramilitary force insist their cause is a righteous continuance of resistance to British rule extending back to the Norman invasion in the 12th century.

From Salon

It said some were likely to be part of the Corps Africa, a paramilitary force previously known as Wagner before being renamed and officially coming under Russian military control.

From BBC

They lost family members in incidents they believe involved collusion between paramilitaries and security forces.

From BBC

Authorities accused him of joining the Freedom of Russia Legion - a paramilitary unit composed of Russian volunteers fighting for Ukraine against the Russian army.

From BBC