paratroops

plural noun

para·​troops ˈper-ə-ˌtrüps How to pronounce paratroops (audio)
ˈpa-rə-
: troops trained and equipped to parachute from an airplane
paratroop
ˈper-ə-ˌtrüp How to pronounce paratroops (audio)
ˈpa-rə-
adjective

Examples of paratroops in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The government poured more than 3,000 troops into the effort, including paratroops and special forces soldiers, according to Sandoval. Kevin Sieff, Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2023 But later, around the third week of March, the Russians landed paratroops on the Ukrainian side of the river near Moshchun, according to Vdovychenko, the commander of the 72nd Brigade. Isabelle Khurshudyan, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2022 No British attempt was made to land men simultaneously on the south bank of the Rhine, nearest the Allied lines, and the paratroops failed in their own attempts to cross the bridge under fire. Max Hastings, The New York Review of Books, 28 May 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'paratroops.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

para- entry 2

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of paratroops was in 1940

Dictionary Entries Near paratroops

Cite this Entry

“Paratroops.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paratroops. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

paratroops

noun plural
para·​troops ˈpar-ə-ˌtrüps How to pronounce paratroops (audio)
: troops trained and equipped to parachute from an airplane
paratroop adjective
paratrooper
-ˌtrü-pər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on paratroops

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