Word
paras
UK/pˈæɹəz/
Plural noun
Definition
n. a short way to say 'paratroopers' — soldiers who jump out of planes with parachutes to go into battle.
n. a colloquial shortening of 'paratroopers', referring to members of a military unit trained to be dropped by parachute into combat zones.
Examples
“The paras landed behind enemy lines at dawn.”
“After completing their rigorous jump training, the new recruits were officially inducted into the paras.”
“The deployment of the paras was seen as a strategic necessity, given their ability to bypass traditional ground defences and secure the airfield within minutes of the initial drop.”
Examples
simple
“The paras landed behind enemy lines at dawn.”
contextual
“After completing their rigorous jump training, the new recruits were officially inducted into the paras.”
complex
“The deployment of the paras was seen as a strategic necessity, given their ability to bypass traditional ground defences and secure the airfield within minutes of the initial drop.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “paras” in context.
Verb
01. deploy paras
“The high command decided to deploy paras to secure the airfield.”
verb + noun
02. dispatch paras
“The government dispatched paras to quell the uprising in the remote province.”
verb + noun
03. drop paras
“Transport planes began to drop paras over the designated landing zone.”
verb + noun
04. paras jump
“The paras jump from low altitudes to avoid detection by radar.”
noun + verb
05. paras regroup
“After landing in the dark, the paras regrouped at the forest edge.”
noun + verb
Adjective
06. airborne paras
“The airborne paras conducted a night-time drop into the valley.”
adj + noun
07. elite paras
“The elite paras were the first to be deployed behind enemy lines.”
adj + noun
08. hardened paras
“Battle-hardened paras led the assault on the strategic bridgehead.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. battalion of paras
“A full battalion of paras was mobilized for the emergency operation.”
noun + prep + noun
10. company of paras
“A company of paras held the position against overwhelming odds.”
noun + prep + noun
11. drop in the paras
“The generals decided to drop in the paras to cut off the retreat.”
12. spearheaded by the paras
“The invasion was spearheaded by the paras to ensure a swift victory.”
Usage
Pluralia tantum in this military sense; takes plural verb agreement.
Real-World Examples
“Throughout their six months on the ground, the paras were locked in almost non-stop combat with the Taliban.” “In 1977 – because of defence cuts, and because of their unpopularity with the rest of the army – the Paras were reduced to three battalions of around 2700 men.” “Soldiers Callum Wright, Scott Meenagh, Geoff Dunn, Dan Eccles and Terry Jones all served in the Parachute Regiment, known as the Paras.” “The PARAs are the airborne infantry element of the British Army; their role is to operate with minimal, or no support, potentially behind enemy lines and against superior forces.” Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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