armed forces

Also known as army

collective organization of a country's armed military and paramilitary

AI overview

Armed forces are the organized military and paramilitary groups that a country uses to protect itself and carry out national defense. They matter because they provide security for a nation's territory, citizens, and interests.

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Image: Makedonische phalanx.png

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Commons category: Military

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NATO military ceremony in Pabradė, Lithuania, November 2014 A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable by a distinct military uniform. They may consist of one or more military branches such as an army, navy, air force, space force, marines, or coast guard. The main task of a military is usually defined as defence of their state and its interests against external armed threats.

In broad usage, the terms "armed forces" and "military" are often synonymous, although in technical usage a distinction is sometimes made in which a country's armed forces may include other paramilitary forces such as armed police.