army

[ ahr-mee ]

/ ˈɑr mi /

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.

Nearby words

armscye, armstand dive, armstrong, armstrong, louis, armure, army, army air forces, army ant, army brat, army corps, army cutworm

Origin of army

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

Related forms

pro·ar·my, adjective

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

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

Pan Am was granted landing rights at Camp Colombia, an army base near Havana.
Goodbye, Bahamas. Hello, Havana!|Clive Irving|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Confederate supplies had been captured by Sheridan, and Lees army was almost at the point of starvation.
The Civil War Through the Camera|Henry W. (Henry William) Elson
An Army man tackled me on their 25-yard line, after I had taken the ball down the field for nearly a touchdown.
Football Days|William H. Edwards
If there are good and true men in the South now, they would go into the army for similar cause.
Detailed Minutiae of Soldier life in the Army of Northern Virginia, 1861-1865|Carlton McCarthy
He left his disreputable companions and entered the army honorably.
The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 2, September, 1851|Various
Claudius himself came for a brief visit to receive the congratulations of the army on the victory which his lieutenant had won.
A Student's History of England, v. 1 (of 3)|Samuel R. Gardiner.

British Dictionary definitions for army

army

/ (ˈɑːmɪ) /

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