English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
DEMOBILISE or IMMOBILISE?
The man was ~immobilised~ from the Nigerian Army in 1999 (nonstandard).
The man was *demobilised* from the Nigerian Army in 1999 (standard).
To demobilise is to release someone from one of the armed forces, especially at the end of a war.
There is a car alarm system that ~demobilises~ the engine (nonstandard).
There is a car alarm system that *immobilises* the engine (standard).
To immobilise something or someone means to stop them from moving or operating.
Note too that a device fitted to a car that stops it from moving so that it cannot be stolen is an *immobiliser*, not a demobiliser. Demobiliser is nonexistent in the English lexicon.
GAB
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