army

[ahr-mee]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR army ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural ar·mies.

the military forces of a nation, exclusive of the navy and in some countries the air force.

(in large military land forces) a unit consisting typically of two or more corps and a headquarters.

a large body of persons trained and armed for war.

any body of persons organized for any purpose: an army of census takers.

a very large number or group of something; a great multitude; a host: the army of the unemployed.

Origin of army

1350–1400; Middle English armee < Middle French < Latin armāta. Cf. Armada

Related formspro·ar·my, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for army

artillery, corps, company, infantry, squad, command, battalion, mob, unit, division, flight, platoon, cavalry, legion, column, detail, outfit, battery, formation, wing

Examples from the Web for army

Contemporary Examples of army

Fry had previously confirmed the news to his army of followers on Twitter.
Meet Stephen Fry’s Future Husband (Who Is Less Than Half His Age)
Tom Sykes
January 6, 2015
Fatima says they were initially happy when Ziad joined the army, but that feeling has utterly faded.
A Sunni-Shia Love Story Imperiled by al Qaeda
Ruth Michaelson
December 26, 2014
Sabrine says that if Ziad returns, she will make him leave the army.
A Sunni-Shia Love Story Imperiled by al Qaeda
Ruth Michaelson
December 26, 2014
The army has since conducted a brutal wave of jailings against activists and journalists.
Behind Bars for the Holidays: 11 Political Prisoners We Want to See Free In 2015
Movements.Org
December 25, 2014
We are, essentially, an army of guinea pigs millions strong.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder
Carrie Arnold
December 20, 2014

Historical Examples of army

When you kill off all your present army, you must git up a draft.
Punchinello, Vol. 1. No. 20, August 13, 1870
Various
A God-in-Chief was therefore created, like the commanding general of an army.
Ancient Man
Hendrik Willem van Loon
They served the King faithfully as officers in his army and as collectors of his taxes.
Ancient Man
Hendrik Willem van Loon
They belonged to the times when 30,000 men were an army, and when campaigns were spent in sieges.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327
Various
He beat the army in the field, and then let the fortresses drop one by one into his hands.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327
Various

British Dictionary definitions for army

army

noun plural -mies

the military land forces of a nation

a military unit usually consisting of two or more corps with supporting arms and services

(modifier) of, relating to, or characteristic of an armyarmy rations

any large body of people united for some specific purpose

a large number of people, animals, etc; multitude

Word Origin for army

C14: from Old French armee, from Medieval Latin armāta armed forces; see armada

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for army

late 14c., "armed expedition," from Old French armée (14c.) "armed troop, armed expedition," from Medieval Latin armata "armed force," from Latin armata, fem. of armatus "armed, equipped, in arms," past participle of armare "to arm," literally "act of arming," related to arma "tools, arms" (see arm (n.2)). Originally used of expeditions on sea or land; the specific meaning "land force" first recorded 1786. Transferred meaning "host, multitude" is c.1500.

The Old English words were here (still preserved in derivatives like harrier), from PIE *kor- "people, crowd;" and fierd, with an original sense of "expedition," from faran "travel." In spite of etymology, in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, here generally meant "invading Vikings" and fierd was used for the local militias raised to fight them.