Meaning & use

paramilitary

adjective·Academic

Organized and equipped in a manner similar to a military force, but not officially part of a national army.

See it in a sentence

Paramilitary groups patrolled the border region during the years of political unrest.

The police wore paramilitary gear, including body armor and armored vehicles, during the raid.

A note on using this word

Paramilitary can describe both official auxiliary forces and unofficial armed groups, so context matters for whether it implies legitimacy.

Words with a similar meaning

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