private army
collocation in Englishmeaningsofprivateandarmy
These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations witharmy.
private
adjective
uk/ˈpraɪ.vət/us/ˈpraɪ.vət/
only for one person or group and not ...
See more atprivate
army
noun
uk/ˈɑː.mi/us/ˈɑːr.mi/
a particular country's ...
See more atarmy
(Definition ofprivateandarmyfrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)
Examplesofprivate army
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Instead, they rejoined theprivatearmyof their former 'host'.
From theCambridge English Corpus
This is because this right wingprivatearmyso effectively took on the guerillas in the 1990s where the state army failed.
From theCambridge English Corpus
In this role, he promised the warrior loyalty and joined hisprivatearmy+ in return, he gained a right of residence and a share of war-booty.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Bands of uniformed men are roaming the country, some of which refer to themselves as the 'official army' and others the 'privatearmy'.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
What a blessing it is that this head of aprivatearmyis so loyal in his devotion!
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Aprivatearmyis illegal in this country.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It is very curious that none of those gentlemen had anyprivatearmybehind him to keep him in office.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
We have said clearly that there can be no place for aprivatearmyor a paramilitary organisation in a democratic society.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
So is the recruitment of his ownprivatearmy.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
We must face the fact that within a few days a small group of people—whatever their background—have been able to raise a vastprivatearmy.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Everyprivatearmyis mobilised behind its leader; everybody fights for his own corner; and nothing is done.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Why is this man allowed to keep what is virtually aprivatearmyat the present time?
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Instead of that, even theprivatearmyof the bishop was used extensively in security operations.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
There was great poverty as a result of thisprivatearmysystem, and there was not much money for uniforms.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It would be difficult to prevent the creation of aprivatearmy.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Every baron, every great landed proprietor, was the chief of a clan and had his ownprivatearmy, his own armed retainers.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Many people regard the industry as aprivatearmythat wields power that is both unwanted and unchecked.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
They have raised a vastprivatearmybecause they had access to money to enable them to do so.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
What is generally not recognised is that thisprivatearmywas mobilised under the guise of a legal force.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Nevertheless, this is about the presence of aprivatearmy, or a paramilitary organisation.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Want to learn more?
Go to the definition ofprivate
Go to the definition ofarmy
See other collocations witharmy