National Guard

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noun

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.Compare militia (def. 2).

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Words nearby National Guard

National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities, National Front, National Gallery, National Gallery of Art, national grid, National Guard, National Guardsman, National Health Service, National Highway System, national holiday, national hunt

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use National Guard in a sentence

“I still cannot fathom why in the midst of an armed insurrection, which was broadcast worldwide on television, it took the Department of Defense over three hours to approve an urgent request for National Guard support,” Sund wrote in his letter.
“I Don’t Trust the People Above Me”: Riot Squad Cops Open Up About Disastrous Response to Capitol Insurrection|by Joaquin Sapien and Joshua Kaplan|February 12, 2021|ProPublica
Ryan said that in the short term, he supported keeping thousands of National Guard soldiers stationed at the building because Capitol Police needs time to recover.
Acting Capitol Police chief apologizes to lawmakers for ‘failings’ that allowed Jan. 6 breach|Karoun Demirjian, Aaron Davis, Peter Hermann|January 27, 2021|Washington Post
Nearly 26,000 National Guard members arrived after the Jan 6 Capitol riot to help secure Wednesday’s presidential inauguration.
National Guard members allowed back at Capitol after they were banished to a parking garage|Alex Horton|January 22, 2021|Washington Post
One National Guard soldier from Virginia told HuffPost reporter Igor Bobic that he’d never been to the Capitol before and asked Bobic whether the gift shop would open.
That D.C. trip some of us took in high school? It needs to be mandatory.|Petula Dvorak|January 21, 2021|Washington Post

Bowser said National Guard members from out of town would leave the city in waves beginning Thursday.
The fortress around downtown D.C. is being dismantled. But heightened security may remain.|Emily Davies, Michael Brice-Saddler, Peter Hermann|January 21, 2021|Washington Post
The assault, caught on tape, stunned the country and resulted in riots that brought in the National Guard.
‘Why Have I Lost Control?’: Cory Booker in ’92 on Rodney King Echoes Ferguson|Cory Booker|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If I were the powers that be, it would not have taken me three days to call the National Guard.
‘Why Have I Lost Control?’: Cory Booker in ’92 on Rodney King Echoes Ferguson|Cory Booker|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
An Army National Guard colonel charged with knowingly exposing a woman to HIV faced his accuser in a military courtroom on Monday.
Commando Colonel Accused of Exposing his Lover to HIV|Jacob Siegel|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The problem was that Ernst was in Kuwait with the 1168 Transportation Company, a National Guard supply unit that she commanded.
In 2005, ‘Iowa Nice’ Ernst Helped to Oust Veterans From Local Board After They Opposed Her Candidacy|Ben Jacobs|October 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They served in the volunteer Donbass Battalion, one of three specially organized National Guard battalions.
Bitter Survivors and Caravans of Coffins from Ukraine’s “Eastern Boiler”|Anna Nemtsova|September 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In September, 1791, the call to arms summoned the fire-eating captain of the National Guard to sterner scenes.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
M. Bataille was a captain in the National Guard, a fact which he allowed no one to ignore.
Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine, Complete, A -- Z|Anatole Cerfberr and Jules Franois Christophe
The prayer was granted, and a popular army was raised, called the National Guard, three millions strong.
Harper's Young People, November 30, 1880|Various
He then joined the national guard, in which he was before long promoted to the rank of captain.
Frederick Chopin as a Man and Musician|Frederick Niecks
This officer had, at his disposal, a national guard of several hundred men, organised by his own orders.
Fox's Book of Martyrs|John Foxe

British Dictionary definitions for National Guard

National Guard

noun

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

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

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

Cultural definitions for National Guard

National Guard

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.