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Glite Dictionary
to demilitarize

to demilitarize

4 7.3
Remove soldiers and weapons from an area so it has no armed forces
  • verb
  • /ˌdɛmɪˈlɪtəˌraɪz/
  • Formal
translation icon : desmilitarizar
  • After the treaty was signed, the opposing forces agreed to demilitarize the border area.

And together, you know, they sat down and gave Gorbachev the space to demilitarize.

Examples

  • The Israelis, on the other hand, claimed that the area to be demilitarized was, and would remain, Israeli territory.

    Academic text (2016)

  • Founded to settle long-standing territorial disputes and to demilitarize borders, the organization now stresses counter-terrorism cooperation and regional trade.

    Academic text (2003)

  • 9. Promise to demilitarize all city, town, county, and state police forces.

    Blog text (10)

  • Today, as then, there is a golden opportunity to demilitarize the conflict.

    Academic text (2010)

  • In general, the United States should reorient assistance toward activities that will demilitarize Russian society.

    Academic text (1993)

  • At this time, the region has not been demilitarized.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Perhaps a potent strategy would be to demilitarize the region rather than strengthen it.

    Blog text (10)

  • What this means, in effect, is that southern Lebanon will not be completely demilitarized.

    Academic text (2006)

  • The parties also agreed that for a period of up to two years, Sarajevo would be demilitarized and put under UN jurisdiction.

    Academic text (1993)

  • The Sinai was demilitarized, and this made Egypt the first Muslim nation to officially recognize Israel.

    Blog text (14)

Synonyms

to disarm
vsto demilitarize
93 3.9

To take weapons from a person or group so they cannot use them

removes all forces, equipment, and overall military capability not only weapons
to decommission
vsto demilitarize
  • Formal
22 6.5

To officially take a ship, factory, or machine out of use

removes all military presence, equipment, and capability from a place
to deactivate
vsto demilitarize
  • Formal
21 4.3

To take a person or unit out of active service

ends military capability and presence entirely rather than just suspending activity
to demobilize
vsto demilitarize
  • Specialized
4 7.5

To release soldiers from military service and return them to civilian life

removes military presence, equipment, and capability rather than only freeing people
to inactivate
vsto demilitarize
  • Formal
1 7.2

To officially take a person or unit out of military service

permanently removes military presence and capability, not only administrative status
to civilianize
vsto demilitarize
  • Specialized
7.3

To change something or someone from military to civilian use

eliminates military presence and capability instead of just changing its use
to unmobilize
vsto demilitarize
  • Specialized
8.1

To send soldiers, teams, and equipment home and stop military or emergency activity

targets removing military forces and equipment, not just stopping mobilization

Antonyms

to militarize
11 7.3

To put soldiers and weapons into a country or group to make it act like an army

How Demilitarized

to demilitarize
  • Formal
4 7.3
drawdown
  • Specialized
18 6.3

Surface Forms

demilitarize infinitive
demilitarized past
demilitarized past participle
demilitarizing present participle
demilitarizes third person singular

Morphology

demilitarize = militarize (transparent) = de + militar + ize

The meaning is a straightforward reversal of 'militarize', with 'de-' meaning remove or reverse.

Etymology

The word demilitarize breaks into the parts de- meaning 'remove' and military meaning 'soldiers' or 'armed forces', so to demilitarize a place is to take away its soldiers and weapons.