verb
Uncommon
disarm
dihs-AHM
Disarm (verb) means to take weapons away from someone. Example: “The officer disarmed the suspect before making the arrest.”
verb
1
To take weapons away from someone.
"The officer disarmed the suspect before making the arrest."
2
To reduce a country's military weapons and forces.
"Both nations agreed to disarm as part of the peace treaty."
3
To win someone's trust or ease their hostility, often with charm.
"His warm smile disarmed even the toughest critics."
How to use disarm
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo take away someone's weapons or defenses — literally in combat, or figuratively by charming them into dropping their guard.
Common pairings
disarm a suspect
disarm critics
agree to disarm
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Word forms
- Plural
- disarms
- Third person singular
- disarms
- Past tense
- disarmed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The officer _____ the suspect before making the arrest.
Etymology
From Middle English desarmen, from Anglo-Norman desarmer.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “disarm” mean?
The word “disarm” means to take weapons away from someone. In plain terms, to take away someone's weapons or defenses — literally in combat, or figuratively by charming them into dropping their guard.
How do you pronounce “disarm”?
“Disarm” is pronounced dihs-AHM (/dɪsˈɑɹm/ in IPA).
How do you use “disarm” in a sentence?
Here is “disarm” used in a sentence: “The officer disarmed the suspect before making the arrest.”
What part of speech is “disarm”?
“Disarm” is a verb.
Where does the word “disarm” come from?
The word “disarm” comes from Middle English. From Middle English desarmen, from Anglo-Norman desarmer.
Is “disarm” a common word?
“Disarm” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “disarm” have?
“Disarm” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to take weapons away from someone.
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