National Guard

American  

noun

1. state military forces, in part equipped, trained, and quartered by the U.S. government, and paid by the U.S. government, that become an active component of the army when called into federal service by the president in civil emergencies.

---

National Guard British  

noun

1. (sometimes not capitals) the armed force, first commanded by Lafayette, that was established in France in 1789 and existed intermittently until 1871

2. (in the US) a state military force that can be called into federal service by the president

---

National Guard Cultural  

1. The volunteer military forces of each state, which the governor of a state can summon in times of civil disorder or natural disaster. Through congressional and presidential order, the National Guard can be called into service in the regular United States army.

---

Example Sentences

Guest: Adam Kinzinger, former Republican Congressman for Illinois’s 11th and 16th districts, Jan 6 Committee member, former lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard.

From Slate • Mar. 19, 2026

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has authorised the state's National Guard to support emergency operations, CBS said.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

The former Fox News personality, who served as an Army National Guard infantry officer in Iraq and Afghanistan, disdains rules of engagement and other guardrails as constraining to the “warrior ethos.”

From Salon • Mar. 11, 2026

For months, the activist has protested in downtown L.A. against ICE, particularly around the Metropolitan Detention Center where activists have faced off with federal agents, police and the National Guard.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026

I interviewed the first forensics expert in the Dan Rather National Guard story, and he was then specifically picked up by The Washington Post, Chicago Sun-Times, Globe, NYT, etc., within forty-eight hours.

From "The World Is Flat" by Thomas L. Friedman