English Reference
Verb

disarm

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /dɪˈsɑɹm/ UK /dɪsˈɑːm/ dis·arm UK spelling disarmed, disarms

v.to take weapons away from a person or a group. It can also mean making someone feel less angry or suspicious by being friendly.

v.to deprive of weapons or the means of attack; to render harmless by removing the cause of hostility or suspicion.


SIMPLE

The police managed to disarm the suspect without any injuries.

CONTEXTUAL

His warm smile and honest apology helped to disarm the angry customers waiting in line.

COMPLEX

The treaty required both nations to disarm their border patrols as a gesture of goodwill during the peace negotiations.

Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, whether referring to physical weapons or emotional defenses.

But Israel has insisted that the group must fully disarm before any pullout.

BBC News· 27 Aug 2026

From Middle English desarmen (“to divest of arms”), from Anglo-Norman desarmer.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin xno desarmer
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated