Describing an organized group that acts like a military force but is not part of the official army; organized along military lines but without government authority.
From 'para-' (beside or alongside) combined with 'military' from Latin 'militaris' (relating to soldiers). The prefix 'para-' suggests something that mimics military structure but stands outside it.
The prefix 'para-' is used for things that are 'almost' or 'alongside'—paramedics aren't doctors, parasites live alongside their hosts, and paramilitary groups are alongside official militaries. It's a clever prefix that describes things in the gray zone between categories.
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