What does paratroop mean?
A paratroop is a soldier who enters a combat area or difficult terrain by parachuting from an aircraft. The term refers especially to personnel belonging to organized airborne military units, such as paratroop regiments or brigades, rather than to anyone who happens to use a parachute. In modern usage, “paratrooper” is a common alternative when the person is the focus of the sentence. The word is strongly associated with military operations, airborne assaults, and special forces, although paratroop units may also perform reconnaissance, rescue, security, and other missions. Its combination of “parachute” and “troop” reflects the distinctive way these soldiers reach operational areas: by descending directly from aircraft. The term is used in both British and American English, with the broader military meaning remaining stable across the two varieties.
nounA member of an airborne military unit trained to be dropped from an aircraft by parachute, especially into combat or difficult terrain.
- A military member trained and equipped to parachute from an aircraft into an operational area.
"The paratroop landed behind enemy lines and signaled the approaching unit."
"The paratroop completed the jump and prepared to secure the landing zone."
"The museum displays equipment used by paratroops during the Second World War."
The usual plural is “paratroops.” In military contexts, the word can refer collectively to members of an airborne unit.
"The paratroops were dropped from aircraft over the objective."
A paratroop is a soldier whose entrance into battle can begin with a jump from the sky.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of paratroop
“Paratroop” was formed in the early twentieth century from the elements “parachute” and “troop,” a straightforward compound describing soldiers transported by aircraft and dropped by parachute. The term developed as airborne military organization expanded during the First and Second World Wars. Its later derivative “paratrooper” denotes an individual member of such a unit and became especially prominent in wartime English.
Related word forms
How paratroop is actually used
This is primarily a military term. In contemporary usage, it usually refers to a member of a specialized airborne force, and the related form “paratrooper” is often used when the individual is being emphasized.
Easily confused with paratroop
A paratroop is a military airborne soldier, while a parachutist is any person who jumps from an aircraft with a parachute, including recreational jumpers.