paramilitary

/ˈpɛrəˌmɪləˈtɛri/

/pɛrəˈmɪlɪtɛri/

Other forms: paramilitaries

A group that's described as being paramilitary resembles an organized army. During the American Revolutionary War, the minutemen were a paramilitary group that fought in the earliest battles.

When civilians organize themselves (or are organized) into a group that appears to be military, or that assists actual military troops, that's a paramilitary organization. You can also call it, simply, a paramilitary. The early twentieth century word combines the prefix para-, "near" or "resembling," and military, from its Latin root militaris, "of soldiers or war."

Definitions of paramilitary

1. adjective

   of or relating to a group of civilians organized to function like or to assist a military unit
2. noun

   a group of civilians organized in a military fashion (especially to operate in place of or to assist regular army troops)
   synonyms: paramilitary force, paramilitary organisation, paramilitary organization, paramilitary unit

   types:

   fedayeen

   (plural) Arab guerrillas who operate mainly against Israel

   Fedayeen Saddam, Saddam's Martyrs

   a feared paramilitary unit formed in 1995 by young soldiers to serve Saddam Hussein against domestic opponents

   type of:

   force, personnel

   group of people willing to obey orders