Garrison

¹

[gar-uh-suhn]

noun

1. William Lloyd, 1805–79, U.S. leader in the abolition movement.

garrison

²

[gar-uh-suhn]

noun

1. a body of troops stationed in a fortified place.

2. the place where such troops are stationed.

3. any military post, especially a permanent one.

verb (used with object)

1. to provide (a fort, town, etc.) with a garrison.

2. to occupy (a fort, post, station, etc.) with troops.

3. to put (troops) on duty in a fort, post, station, etc.

garrison

/ ˈɡærɪsən /

noun

1. the troops who maintain and guard a base or fortified place

2. 1. the place itself

   2. ( as modifier )

      a garrison town

verb

1. (tr) to station (troops) in (a fort)

Other Word Forms

• overgarrison verb (used with object)
• regarrison verb (used with object)
• ungarrisoned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Garrison¹

1250–1300; Middle English garisoun protection, stronghold < Old French garison, gareison defense, provision, derivative of garir, guerir to defend < Germanic; compare Old High German warjan

Word History and Origins

Origin of Garrison¹

C13: from Old French garison, from garir to defend, of Germanic origin; compare Old Norse verja to defend, Old English, Old High German werian

Example Sentences

The RSF scored a notable victory recently when it overran the city of el-Fasher, the last garrison held by the Sudanese army and its local allies in the western region of Darfur.

Read more on BBC

The storming of the Bastille reflected fear and miscalculation on both sides: Parisians feared its garrison and cannon would be used against them, while military officers felt vulnerable to mob attack.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Singapore was considered impregnable, but it wasn’t prepared for an attack from the mainland, and its 60,000-strong garrison surrendered on Feb. 8, 1942, the worst defeat in British history.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Those shown deploying in coastal areas, he said, were already stationed in garrisons nearby.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Since 2019, soldiers have shut down some smaller army bases and moved into larger, fortified garrisons known as "super camps" in an attempt to better resist militant attacks.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• command post 
• encampment 
• fortress 
• stronghold