military-industrial complex

Meanings

1. Military and industrial facilities situated in the same place.
2. A nation's armed forces and industries (especially those supplying weapons and other materiel) collectively, regarded as a strong vested interest exerting great influence on the government.

Etymology

From military (adjective) + industrial (adjective) + complex (noun), popularized by Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969), the 34th President of the United States, in his farewell address in 1961: see the quotation.