standing army

American  

noun

1. a permanently organized military force maintained by a nation.

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standing army British  

noun

1. a permanent army of paid soldiers maintained by a nation

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Etymology

Origin of standing army

First recorded in 1595–1605

Example Sentences

Today the country has its smallest standing army since the Napoleonic wars.

From The Wall Street Journal

Israel has a relatively small standing army and relies on its reservists during times of war.

From The Wall Street Journal

Thousands of soldiers marched through downtown Pyongyang in the parade, a relatively small contingent representing the roughly 1.2 million troops of one of the world’s largest standing armies.

From The Wall Street Journal

While permanent standing armies existed since World War I, military spending was now central to both industrial strength and economic prosperity.

From The Wall Street Journal

It appears that the country's leader Kim Jong Un has directed much of his limited resources into missiles and nuclear weapons rather than his standing army.

From BBC