Army — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈär-mē/ ar·my

Meaning & Definition of Army

Army (noun)

  1. a large organized body of armed personnel trained for war especially on land
  2. a unit capable of independent action and consisting usually of a headquarters, two or more corps, and auxiliary troops
  3. the complete military organization of a nation for land warfare

Army (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a large body of men and women organized for land warfare

    "In 218 b.c., Hannibal crossed the Alps with an army of 26,000 men and, most famously, a number of elephants"

    similar: array, battalion, host, legion
    related: militia, national guard, standing army, infantry, ranks, regulars, soldiers, troopers, troops

  2. a great number of persons or creatures massed together

    "a vast army of loyal fans in line for the band's farewell concert"

    similar: bike (chiefly Scottish), cram, crowd, crush, drove, flock, herd, horde, host, legion, mass, mob, multitude, press, rout, scrum, swarm, throng
    related: masses, millions, rabble, rabblement, riffraff, gaggle, heap, mountain, pile, jam, logjam

  3. a group of people working together on a task

    "an army of rescue workers descended on the tornado-stricken town"

    similar: band, brigade, company, crew, gang, outfit, party, platoon, squad, team
    related: battalion, corps, troop, force, host, posse, stable, troupe, administration, department, help, personnel, staff

Related Entry: Standing army (noun)

Standing army is a different word from Army. The synonyms below are for standing army, not for army.

  1. as in militia, national guard

    similar: militia, national guard, army, array, battalion, host, legion, infantry, ranks, regulars, soldiers, troopers, troops

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Army

The most common words with a similar meaning to Army:

Chiefly Scottish: bike
array, battalion, host, legion, cram, crowd, crush, drove, flock, herd, horde, mass, mob, multitude, press, rout, scrum, swarm, throng, band, brigade, company, crew, gang, outfit, party, platoon, squad, team

Related Words for Army

militia, national guard, standing army, infantry, ranks, regulars, soldiers, troopers, troops, masses, millions, rabble, rabblement, riffraff, gaggle, heap, mountain, pile, jam, logjam, corps, troop, force, posse, stable, troupe, administration, department, help, personnel

Word Forms of Army

Inflections: armies

Origin & Etymology of Army

Middle English armee, armye "host of armed men, naval fleet, military expedition," borrowed from Anglo-French armé, armee, from armer "to arm:2" + -ee, suffix of action or result (going back to Vulgar Latin *-āta, noun derivative from feminine of Latin -ātus, past participle ending of Latin first-conjugation verbs)

First known use: circa 1522

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Army

Words & Phrases Containing Army

army ant, general of the army, Salvation Army, sergeant major of the army, standing army, Swiss Army, the Salvation Army, the Territorial Army

Frequently Asked Questions about Army

What does "Army" mean?

"Army" means a large organized body of armed personnel trained for war especially on land. As a noun, it is defined as: a large organized body of armed personnel trained for war especially on land. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Army"?

Other words for "Army" include array, battalion, host, legion, bike, cram, crowd and crush. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Army" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Army"?

There are 61 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Army". Common alternatives include array, battalion, host, legion, bike, cram, crowd, crush, drove and flock.

How do you use "Army" in a sentence?

Examples of "Army" in a sentence: "In 218 b.c., Hannibal crossed the Alps with an army of 26,000 men and, most famously, a number of elephants"; "a vast army of loyal fans in line for the band's farewell concert"; "an army of rescue workers descended on the tornado-stricken town".

Is "Army" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Army" is a noun.

Is "Army" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Army" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Army"?

"Army" is pronounced /ˈär-mē/ and divided into syllables as ar·my.

What is the origin of the word "Army"?

"Army" comes from Middle English armee, armye "host of armed men, naval fleet, military expedition," borrowed from Anglo-French armé, armee, from armer "to arm:2" + -ee, suffix of action or result (going back to Vulgar Latin *-āta, noun derivative from feminine of Latin -ātus, past participle ending of Latin first-conjugation verbs). First known use: circa 1522.