army
Americannoun
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the military forces of a nation, exclusive of the navy and in some countries the air force.
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(in large military land forces) a unit consisting typically of two or more corps and a headquarters.
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a large body of persons trained and armed for war.
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any body of persons organized for any purpose.
an army of census takers.
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a very large number or group of something; a great multitude; a host.
the army of the unemployed.
noun
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the military land forces of a nation
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a military unit usually consisting of two or more corps with supporting arms and services
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(modifier) of, relating to, or characteristic of an army
army rations
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any large body of people united for some specific purpose
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a large number of people, animals, etc; multitude
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of army
1350–1400; Middle English armee < Middle French < Latin armāta. Cf. Armada
Explanation
An army is an organized group of fighters, especially a country's official military force. When a country goes to war, it sends an army to fight. An army is typically defined as fighting on land, while a navy battles at sea, and some countries make this even more clear by distinguishing their "Land Army" from their "Air Army." The 14th century meaning of army was "armed expedition," from the Old French armée and the Latin root armata, "armed, equipped, or in arms."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Requesting anonymity, the source emphasised that the Lebanese army was still present at the army barracks in Nabatieh city.
From Barron's • Jun. 14, 2026
A crucial element in SpaceX’s soaring IPO was the army of do-it-yourself traders who bought some $118 million of SpaceX stock on the first day of trading.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 14, 2026
Even though the Russian army is bigger and better equipped than its Ukrainian counterpart, the use of drones has created a "dead zone" on either side of the front line.
From Barron's • Jun. 14, 2026
They have a vast travelling army with them and millions more at home, a strange amalgam of positivity and anxiety, belief and fear.
From BBC • Jun. 13, 2026
By then, the Germans had transferred the best units of their eastern army to the Western Front, where they were preparing for a new offensive against the French and British before the Americans arrived.
From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
