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

A US federal judge on Friday threw out a series of restrictions placed by President Donald Trump's administration on legal immigration following last year's shooting of members of the National Guard by an Afghan immigrant.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

National Guard airfield in 1981, an FBI office in Hato Rey in 1983, and the U.S. courthouse in Old San Juan in 1985.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026

Police cordoned off access to the White House and National Guard troops blocked an AFP reporter from entering the area in downtown Washington.

From Barron's • May 23, 2026

Koslow is a retired state command chief master sergeant in the California Air National Guard, according to his campaign website.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Yet here were statements by “Professors, National Guard Officers, Scientists and the Secretary of the Interior.”

From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow