Definition
A buffer zone where military forces and operations are prohibited by treaty, creating a theoretically peaceful area that ironically tends to be heavily militarized on both sides. Peace through the threat of immediate violence.
Example Usage
Patrol along the DMZ's southern boundary—observe only, do not cross the demarcation line under any circumstances.
Origin
Formalized in the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement creating the Korean DMZ
Fun Fact
The Korean DMZ has become one of the world's most pristine nature preserves precisely because humans can't enter it without triggering an international incident—environmental conservation through mortal danger.
Source: International military armistice and treaty terminology
Related Terms
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See “demilitarized zone” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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