an irregular individual belonging to forces or groups distinct from the regular armed forces of any country, but resembling them in organization, equipment, training, or mission
Good to know
When civilians organize themselves (or are organized) into a group that appears to be military, or that assists actual military troops, that's a paramilitary organization. You can also call it, simply, a paramilitary. The early twentieth century word combines the prefix para-, "near" or "resembling," and military, from its Latin root militaris, "of soldiers or war."
A group of civilians organized in a military fashion (especially to operate in place of or to assist regular army troops).
