Definition of "paramilitary" []

• Of, relating to, or being a group of civilians organized in a military fashion, especially to operate in place of or assist regular army troops. (adjective)
• A member of a paramilitary force. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "This was an area that they were still a little bit concerned that there might be some what they call paramilitary resistance and the commanding officer, Colonel Richard Mills (ph), described the approach as controlled aggression."
• "French authorities forced strike-shuttered fuel depots to reopen to ensure gasoline supplies, and the interior minister threatened Wednesday to send in paramilitary police to stop rioting on the fringes of protests against raising the retirement age to 62."
• "In Kent nice fluffy lady policemen wear flat hats and ties and male officers walk around in paramilitary style combat trousers and black t-shirts."