Learn English – At this point, are “military” and “armed forces” synonymous

militarysynonymsterminology

Looking at the free definitions online, and not including too much history, it seems to me that at one point the Navy was not directly associated as ”military”. Or rather, that the Navy included not only military ships, but all ships of a nation.

Today the terms at top seem synonymous. Only perhaps that the word military carries more weight, and can be used for either a more powerful sentiment, or more pejorative, depending on the context.

Likewise ”armed forces”, and even more so ”armed services” seem to be softer representations of otherwise exactly the same thing.

(..not unlike ”dead” vs. ”deceased”? [Sorry, couldn't resist.])

Is there any technical difference, or situations today, where these are NOT interchangeable?

Best Answer

According to Wikipedia, the difference between Armed Forces and 'military' is the former's inclusion in the former definition of the paramilitary forces:

  • The Armed Forces of a country are its government-sponsored defence, fighting forces, and organizations. They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external and internal aggressors.

  • In broad usage, the terms "armed forces" and "military" are often treated synonymously, although in technical usage, a distinction is sometimes made, in which a country's armed forces may include both its military and other paramilitary forces. Armed force is then the use of armed forces to achieve political objectives.

    • Under the Law of Armed Conflict, a state may incorporate a paramilitary organisation or armed agency (such as a national police or a private volunteer militia) into its armed forces. The other parties to a conflict have to be notified thereof.

Source:http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_forces

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