The term military-industrial complex (MIC) refers to a close and symbiotic relationship among a nation's armed forces, its private industry, and associated political and commercial interests. In such a system, the military is dependent on industry to supply material and other support, while the defense industry depends on government for revenue.
The term is most often used in reference to the United States, where it gained popularity after its use in the farewell address of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. As pejorative terms, the "MIC" or the "iron triangle" refer to an institutionalised collusion among defense contractors (industry), The Pentagon (military), and the United States government (Congress, Executive branch), as a cartel that works against the public interest, and whose motivation is profiteering. The sociologist C.Wright Mills had in the book Power Elite, described how an elite consisting of men from the higher circles of Economic, Military and Political order were the real rulers, beyond democratic control.
In an earlier draft of this farewell address, term read military-industrial-congressional complex. When Congressional leaders saw it, they requested that he remove 'Congressional' and Eisenhower did.