paramilitary
A group of civilians trained and organized in a military fashion, but which do not represent the formal forces of a sovereign power.
Adjective
- Relating to a paramilitary.
Origin
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- Proto-Hellenic *pərai Ancient Greek πᾰρᾰ́ (părắ) Ancient Greek πᾰρᾰ- (pără-)der. English para- English military English paramilitary From para- + military.
Forms
Derived
antiparamilitary paramilitarily paramilitarism paramilitarist
Noun
- A group of civilians trained and organized in a military fashion, but which do not represent the formal forces of a sovereign power.
- From the start of its operations in Colombia, the company was on guard against the decadeslong civil strife in the country between left-wing guerrilla and right-wing paramilitary groups, witnesses have testified. - 2007...
- Cossack paramilitaries operate in Ukraine and southern Russia. […] Before he entered eastern Ukraine, Girkin led paramilitary groups in Crimea and negotiated with Ukrainian military officers in attempts to induce them...
- A member of a paramilitary group.