paratrooper
gb/pˈɛɹətɹˌupɚ/ us/pˈɛɹətɹˌupɚ/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
C1
role
1
soldier who parachutes into combat
a soldier who jumps from a plane with a parachute
Usage pattern:
a paratrooper; [someone] is a paratrooper; paratroopers in/over [place]
Common mistake:
A paratrooper is a military soldier; a recreational jumper is usually called a parachutist or skydiver.
Synonyms
airborne soldier (General term focusing on airborne forces; not always parachute-specific in every context.)
|
parachutist (Can mean any parachute jumper; less specifically military.)
Antonyms
civilian (Not a member of the armed forces.)
Collocations
elite paratrooper
|army paratrooper
|trained paratrooper
|paratrooper unit
|paratrooper regiment
|paratrooper brigade
|paratrooper training
|paratrooper jump
|paratrooper drop
|paratrooper landing
Themes
military
|war
|aviation
Examples
- The paratroopers jumped from the plane just before dawn.
- He served as a paratrooper in an airborne regiment.
- Paratroopers secured the bridge to allow the main force to advance.
Learner examples
- My uncle was a paratrooper in the army.
- The paratrooper jumped with a parachute.
Noun
informal
C2
role
2
person sent in to fix crisis
someone sent in quickly to solve a problem
Usage pattern:
a paratrooper sent in to [do something]; a corporate paratrooper
Common mistake:
This figurative meaning is less common than the military one and is often used in business or politics.
Synonyms
troubleshooter (Emphasizes solving problems, not necessarily taking over leadership.)
|
fixer (More informal; can suggest behind-the-scenes influence.)
Antonyms
caretaker (Someone who maintains stability rather than making rapid changes.)
Collocations
corporate paratrooper
|political paratrooper
|paratrooper manager
|sent in as a paratrooper
|a paratrooper hire
Themes
business
|work
|management
Examples
- The company hired a paratrooper to turn around the failing division.
- After the scandal, she was seen as a political paratrooper sent to restore order.
Learner examples
- They brought in a paratrooper to fix the problem.
Grammar
Dictionary form
paratrooper
IPA
GB/pˈɛɹətɹˌupɚ/
US/pˈɛɹətɹˌupɚ/
Syllables & stress
para - troop - er (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (para)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: paratrooper
- Plural: paratroopers
Word family
Expressions
paratrooper boots
1/pˈɛɹətɹˌupɚ bˈuts/
fixed phrase
boots in military style
strong boots in a military style
Examples
- He wore paratrooper boots with jeans and a leather jacket.
- The museum displayed a pair of paratrooper boots from World War II.
paratrooper jump
1/pˈɛɹətɹˌupɚ d͡ʒˈʌmp/
fixed phrase
military parachute jump
a soldier’s jump from a plane with a parachute
Examples
- The trainees completed a night paratrooper jump over the drop zone.
- A strong wind made the paratrooper jump more dangerous than usual.
paratrooper regiment
1/pˈɛɹətɹˌupɚ ɹˈɛd͡ʒɪmənt/
fixed phrase
technical
large paratrooper military formation
a large army group of paratroopers
Examples
- He joined a paratrooper regiment after completing airborne training.
- The paratrooper regiment took part in a joint exercise with allied forces.
paratrooper unit
1/pˈɛɹətɹˌupɚ jˈunɪt/
fixed phrase
military group of paratroopers
a military group of soldiers who parachute
Examples
- A paratrooper unit was deployed to secure the airfield.
- The general inspected the paratrooper unit before the exercise.