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Glite Dictionary
rearmament

rearmament

1 8.0
To give a country new weapons and military equipment after it had few weapons
  • noun
  • /ˌriːˈɑːrməmənt/
translation icon : rearmento
  • The government announced a new rearmament policy to boost national defense capabilities.
  • German rearmament
  • Japan's rearmament
  • Japanese rearmament

Examples

  • Fifth, Iran's rearmament program picked up in 1992 as Tehran went shopping for arms in the former Soviet bloc.

    Academic text (1994)

  • But both the French and the Soviets were deeply concerned about German rearmament.

    Academic text (2013)

  • German rearmament is a fact to be accepted.

    The Remains of the Day (1993)

  • The French at first strongly opposed any formula for German rearmament, even within a common European defense community.

    Academic text (2009)

  • China has engaged in the biggest peacetime rearmament in history over the last decade.

  • MacArthur sharply disagreed with Washington over Japan's rearmament and for years simply refused the order.

    Academic text (2016)

  • The growing demand for aero engines under rearmament necessitated a dramatic restructuring and expansion of the firm.

    Academic text (1997)

  • Shortly after Article 9's promulgation, the United States began to demand the rearmament of Japan in the context of the Korean War and the rise of communism.

    Academic text (2016)

  • Both the Syrian and Israeli militaries, meanwhile, readied for the possibility of renewed conflict with fortifications, rearmament, and robust training exercises.

    Academic text (2008)

  • The United States made its forward troop commitment and acceptance of the SACEUR position contingent upon allied acceptance of German rearmament, and West Germany was eventually admitted to NATO in 1954.

    Academic text (2013)

Synonyms

arming
vsrearmament
16 5.1

The act of giving weapons to soldiers to prepare for war

emphasizes re‑equipping after disarmament rather than general preparation for war
militarization
vsrearmament
8 7.2

Making a country or area ready for war by adding soldiers and weapons

is more narrowly about adding weapons after disarmament rather than broad militarizing
armament
vsrearmament
5 7.0

Supplying a country or army with weapons and equipment to prepare for war

focuses on adding weapons after disarmament rather than general wartime supply
remilitarization
vsrearmament
  • Formal
9.9

Putting soldiers and weapons back into a place after the soldiers left

means the same process of adding weapons after a prior disarmament

Antonyms

disarmament
  • Specialized
51 5.5

To reduce or remove weapons and armies between countries to lower the chance of war

How Armed

arms race
22 4.2
rearmament
1 8.0
armament
5 7.0
disarmament
  • Specialized
51 5.5
demobilization
  • Specialized
2 7.7

Surface Forms

rearmament singular
rearmaments plural

Morphology

rearmament = rearm (transparent) = re + arm + ment

The noun is a standard and readily interpretable process noun built from the verb 'rearm' with '-ment'.

Etymology

The word rearmament is built from re- meaning 'again', arm meaning 'to supply with weapons' like the word 'army', and -ment which makes a noun. So rearmament literally means 'the act of arming again', which is why it means giving a country new or extra weapons.