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disarmament

dis-ARM-uh-ment /dɪsˈɑːrməmənt/

nounC1GRETOEFLIELTS

formalpolitical

The reduction or withdrawal of military forces and weapons.

Refers to the act of reducing, limiting, or abolishing weapons, particularly weapons of mass destruction, or the demobilization of armed forces. It's a key goal in conflict resolution.

The story behind the word. The word 'disarmament' is formed by adding the prefix 'dis-' (meaning 'away, apart, reversal') to 'armament' (from Latin 'arma', meaning 'weapons, tools of war'). So, it literally means the 'un-arming' or taking away of weapons. The term gained significant currency in the context of international efforts to prevent war, especially after the devastating world wars.

Word relationships

demilitarization: Demilitarization refers to removing military forces or weapons from an area, or reducing a nation's military capacity, very close to disarmament.
demobilization: Demobilization is the process of disbanding military forces after a conflict, a component of disarmament.
arms control: Arms control is a broader term for agreements to limit the production or use of weapons, with disarmament being a more extreme form of reduction.

armament: The process of equipping with weapons or military forces.
rearmament: The process of rebuilding or increasing military forces and weapons.

Word family

disarm (verb): To take weapons away from (a person, force, or country); to reduce the size and effectiveness of (a country's military).

Collocations

nuclear disarmament
general disarmament
complete disarmament
arms disarmament
disarmament treaty

Example sentences

"Negotiations for nuclear disarmament have been a central theme of international diplomacy for decades, aiming to reduce the threat of global conflict." International treaties.
"After the civil war, a comprehensive disarmament program was implemented to collect weapons from former combatants and reintegrate them into civilian life." Post-conflict efforts.

Memory hook

To 'dis-arm' means to take away 'arms' (weapons). Disarmament is the process of doing that. Remove Arms

When not to use

Do not use 'disarmament' for simply losing a weapon; it refers to a deliberate, often negotiated, reduction of military capacity.

Fun facts

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is a landmark international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament.