Question

paramilitary In the country's most remote regions, the real power was held by large landowners, who actually kept paramilitary forces, their own private armies, on their estates. ˌpɛrəˈmɪləˌtɛri

Accepted Answer

Relating to a force formed on a military pattern, especially as a possible backup military force. This term paramilitary can take in a wide range of organizations, but is usually applied to forces formed by a government. Groups opposing a government, even when organized along military lines, are more often referred to as guerrillas or insurgents. In countries with weak central governments (such as, in recent times, Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq, or Congo), warlords may form their own paramilitary forces and take over all local police and military functions. Paramilitary often has a sinister sound today, since it's also applied to groups of off-duty military or police personnel who carry out illegal violence, often at night, with the quiet support of a government.

word	paramilitary
definition	Relating to a force formed on a military pattern, especially as a possible backup military force.
eg_sentence	In the country's most remote regions, the real power was held by large landowners, who actually kept paramilitary forces, their own private armies, on their estates.
explanation	This term paramilitary can take in a wide range of organizations, but is usually applied to forces formed by a government. Groups opposing a government, even when organized along military lines, are more often referred to as guerrillas or insurgents. In countries with weak central governments (such as, in recent times, Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq, or Congo), warlords may form their own paramilitary forces and take over all local police and military functions. Paramilitary often has a sinister sound today, since it's also applied to groups of off-duty military or police personnel who carry out illegal violence, often at night, with the quiet support of a government.
IPA	ˌpɛrəˈmɪləˌtɛri

Paramilitary Military Formed Applied Forces Government Groups Police