armedforces pl (normally plural,singulararmed force)

1. Themilitaryforces of anation, such as thearmy,navy,air force,marines, and sometimes,coastguard orborder guard, which are tasked with the defence of the nation and itscitizens, if necessary through use of deadly force.
   • 2020 September 23, Shi Chuan, “When Police Officers No Longer Work for Dictators”, inMinghui‎^[1]:

     What dictators fear most is losing the support of thearmed forces, and when this happens, it's as if a ferocious beast has lost its teeth.