armed forces

plural noun

: the combined military, naval, and air forces of a nation

called also armed services

Synonyms of armed forces

• troops
• soldiers

Examples of armed forces in a Sentence

our nation's armed forces are stationed throughout the world

Recent Examples on the Web

Its armed forces have proved capable of continuing to damage American military bases despite coming under heavy bombardment. — Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026

Those factions, which also fought against Islamic State, have embedded themselves into the fabric of the Iraqi state and are now an official part of Iraq’s armed forces. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

The presidential decree, which was published Monday on Russia’s official legal information database, will put the size of Russia’s armed forces at 2,441,630, including 1,550,500 active servicemen. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026

Russia's Defense Ministry said the data center was providing internet services to Ukraine's armed forces. — ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for armed forces

• reinforces
• watercourses
• courses
• horses
• sources
• discourses
• divorces
• endorses
• enforces
• indorses
• racehorses
• workforces

Kids Definition

armed forces

plural noun

: the military, naval, and air forces of a nation