paramilitary

• para-military

From para- + military.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌpæɹəˈmɪlɪˌtɹi/
• (US, without the Mary–marry–merry merger) IPA^(key): /ˌpæɹəˈmɪlɪˌtɛɹi/
• (US, Mary–marry–merry merger) IPA^(key): /ˌpɛɹəˈmɪlɪˌtɛɹi/

  • Audio (US, Mary–marry–merry merger):

    (file)

• (Scotland) IPA^(key): /ˌpaɾəˈmɪlɪˌtɾe/, /-ˌtɾɪ/, /-ˌtɾi/
• (Wales) IPA^(key): /ˌpaɾəˈmɪlɪˌtɾi/

paramilitary (plural paramilitaries)

1. A group of civilians trained and organized in a military fashion, but which do not represent the formal forces of a sovereign power.
   • 2007 July 13, Kyle Whitmire, “Suit in U.S. Over Murders in Colombia”, in The New York Times‎^[1], archived from the original on 26 January 2021:

     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.

   • 2014, “Little Green Men”: A Primer on Modern Russian Unconventional Warfare, Ukraine 2013–2014‎^[2], Fort Bragg, North Carolina: The United States Army Special Operations Command, pages 44-45:

     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 to defect to Russia.

2. (colloquial) A member of a paramilitary group.

paramilitary (not comparable)

1. Relating to a paramilitary. [1935^[1]]