An army is a large organized group of people who are armed and trained to fight on land in a war. Most armies are organized and controlled by governments.
After returning from France, he joined the army.
The army is about to launch a major offensive.
...a top-ranking army officer.
Synonyms: soldiers, military, troops, armed force More Synonyms of army
2. countable noun [with singular or plural verb]
An armyof people, animals, or things is a large number of them, especially when they are regarded as a force of some kind.
...data collected by an army of volunteers. [+ of]
...armies of shoppers looking for bargains.
...the army of television cameras outside his house.
Synonyms: vast number, host, gang, mob More Synonyms of army
army in British English
(ˈɑːmɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-mies
1.
the military land forces of a nation
2.
a military unit usually consisting of two or more corps with supporting arms and services
3. (modifier)
of, relating to, or characteristic of an army
army rations
4.
any large body of people united for some specific purpose
5.
a large number of people, animals, etc; multitude
Word origin
C14: from Old French armee, from Medieval Latin armāta armed forces; see armada
army in American English
(ˈɑrmi)
nounWord forms: pluralˈarmies
1.
a large, organized body of soldiers for waging war, esp. on land
2.
a military unit, usually two or more army corps, together with auxiliary troops
3.
standing army
4. [oftenA-]
a large organization of persons for a specific cause
the Salvation Army
5.
any large number of persons, animals, etc. considered as a whole
the army of the unemployed
Word origin
ME & OFr armee < armer, arm2, v.
COBUILD Collocations
army
Allied army
leave the army
train the army
vast army of
Examples of 'army' in a sentence
army
The army wants people with an edge.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Which makes it sound less like a charity and more like an army fighting a war.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Now the army's special forces have been trained by American instructors.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He told me a group of army officers had been arrested to foil a coup plot.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We oppose the policy of forcing people into the army.
Charles Glass The Tribes Triumphant (2006)
Residents said that the army launched rockets against pockets of insurgents in the coastal city.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The changes are aimed at raising the number of army reservists.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The trouble was that a large navy in addition to a large army entailed heavy expenditures.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
At school it had been a requirement that you join the army cadet force for a year.
Oliver Poole BLACK KNIGHTS: On the Bloody Road to Baghdad (2003)
They had already experienced discrimination in the army while fighting the "crusade for freedom".
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
Russia admitted that red army units had been in action.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Rival factions and some army leaders are fighting a fierce rearguard action against the president.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He divided his army into small groups and dispatched each group to the head of a different road.
Pressley, Michael & McCormick, Christine Advanced Educational Psychology For Educators, Researchers and Policymakers, (1995)
The army has launched an inquiry.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The nation 's army of honest hard workers really do deserve better than this.
The Sun (2012)
The Army allows people an opportunity to make something of themselves.
The Sun (2015)
The Russians had huge numbers of army officers in their ranks who were paid a military salary.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The camp is home to three battalions of the nation 's army.
The Sun (2011)
The Japanese retained large armies with which to defend their home islands.
Max Hastings Nemesis: The Battle for Japan, 194445 (2007)
Your imagination, resourcefulness and initiative reflect credit on the entire army air forces.
Max Hastings Nemesis: The Battle for Japan, 194445 (2007)
Members are encouraged to serve in the army in groups, ostensibly as protection against widespread bullying.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
His people 's army had played an important role in his win.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The French realised that they could not opt out of providing the land army to repel Germany.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
He served with the Black Watch and the army intelligence corps.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
An international army was landed in China and "rescued "the Europeans.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
The core answer to all these questions is that in 1914 Britain entered a major land war without a major land army.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Last week the army launched a campaign to retake Ramadi, and it made a final push to seize the central administration buildings yesterday.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Quotations
I don't know what effect these men will have upon the enemy, but, by God, they terrify meDuke of Wellington
An army marches on its stomach
In other languages
army
British English: army /ˈɑːmɪ/ NOUN
An army is a large organized group of people who are armed and trained to fight.
He joined the Army last year.
American English: army
Arabic: جَيْش
Brazilian Portuguese: exército
Chinese: 军队
Croatian: vojska
Czech: armáda
Danish: hær
Dutch: leger
European Spanish: ejército
Finnish: armeija
French: armée
German: Militär
Greek: στρατός
Italian: esercito
Japanese: 軍隊
Korean: 군대
Norwegian: hær
Polish: armia
European Portuguese: exército
Romanian: armată
Russian: армия
Latin American Spanish: ejército
Swedish: armé
Thai: กองทัพ
Turkish: ordu
Ukrainian: армія
Vietnamese: quân đội
All related terms of 'army'
army ant
any of various mainly tropical American predatory ants of the subfamily Dorylinae, which live in temporary nests and travel in vast hordes preying on other animals
army base
a centre from which military activities are coordinated
army brat
a daughter or son of a career U.S. Army officer or enlisted person, esp. one raised in military communities
army camp
A camp is a collection of huts and other buildings that is provided for a particular group of people, such as refugees , prisoners , or soldiers, as a place to live or stay .
Army List
an official list of all serving commissioned officers of the army and reserve officers liable for recall
army worm
any of the larvae of certain noctuid moths , esp. of the moth ( Pseudaletia unipuncta ) of which the caterpillar is dark-striped green and yellow: these larvae travel in large groups, ruining crops and grass
bot army
a group of computers, infected with malign programs via the internet , that can be controlled remotely to, for example , mount denial-of-service attacks
land army
an armed force serving on land
Red Army
→ the Red Army
Allied army
An army is a large organized group of people who are armed and trained to fight on land in a war. Most armies are organized and controlled by governments.
army corps
a military formation that comprises two or more divisions and additional support arms
army-issue
given to soldiers in order to help them carry out their duties
Church Army
a voluntary Anglican organization founded in 1882 to assist the parish clergy
Dad's army
an affectionate or humorous term for the British Home Guard during World War II
field army
the largest formation of a land force, usually consisting of two or more corps with supporting arms and services
Sally Army
a Christian body founded in 1865 by William Booth and organized on quasi-military lines for evangelism and social work among poor people
Tartan Army
fans of the Scottish football team, considered as a group
army officer
a person in the army who holds a position of authority , responsibility and duty , esp one who holds a commission
army surplus
used or unused articles of military clothing, equipment , etc previously allocated to or intended for the use of army personnel but now sold off to members of the public
Regular Army
the permanent , or standing , army of the United States ; the United States Army
standing army
a permanent army of paid soldiers maintained by a nation
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Christian organization that aims to spread Christianity and care for the poor. Its members wear military-style uniforms .
the Red Army
the Soviet army
vast army of
An army of people, animals, or things is a large number of them, especially when they are regarded as a force of some kind.
volunteer army
a military force composed entirely of enlistees
fall army worm
the caterpillar of a widely distributed noctuid moth, Spodoptera frugiperda, which travels in vast hordes and is a serious pest of cereal crops in tropical regions of the western hemisphere
leave the army
An army is a large organized group of people who are armed and trained to fight on land in a war. Most armies are organized and controlled by governments.
New Model Army
the army established in 1645 during the Civil War by the English parliamentarians , which exercised considerable political power under Cromwell
professional army
an army of trained soldiers
Territorial Army
The Territorial Army is a British armed force whose members are not professional soldiers but train as soldiers in their spare time.
train the army
An army is a large organized group of people who are armed and trained to fight on land in a war. Most armies are organized and controlled by governments.
African army worm
the caterpillar of a widely distributed noctuid moth, Spodoptera exempta, which travels in vast hordes and is a serious pest of cereal crops and grasses in Africa and parts of Australia
army of occupation
an army that goes into a defeated country to enforce peace terms, keep order, etc.
Red Army Faction
a group of left-wing West German terrorists , active in the 1970s, who were dedicated to the violent overthrow of capitalist society
Swiss Army knife
a pocket knife including a variety of blades and tools , each of which can be folded into the handle
United States Army
the Regular Army of the United States
Women's Land Army
→ the Women's Land Army
Irish Republican Army
a militant organization of Irish nationalists founded with the aim of striving for a united independent Ireland by means of guerrilla warfare
Army of the Potomac
Union forces, trained and organized by Gen . George B . McClellan, that guarded Washington , D.C., against a Confederate invasion across the Potomac and fought battles in the eastern sector during the Civil War
general of the army
an officer of the highest rank, with an insignia of five stars : a WWII rank
Student Volunteer Army
a students' voluntary organization that aims to undertake useful work in communities, founded in 2010 to help clear up after a damaging earthquake in Christchurch
the Women's Land Army
a unit of women recruited to do agricultural work in the United Kingdom during World War I and World War II
Army of the United States
during WWII, the overall army forces of the U.S., including the Regular Army, the Organized Reserves , the National Guard , and Selective Service personnel
Grand Army of the Republic
an association of Union veterans of the Civil War, formed in 1866: the last member died in 1956
United States Army Special Forces
special forces
elite , highly trained military forces, specially selected to work on difficult missions
Chinese translation of 'army'
army
(ˈɑːmɪ)
n
the army军(軍)队(隊) (jūnduì)
⇒ He joined the army.他参军了。 (Tā cānjūn le.)
(= host)
an army of sth一大群某物 (yī dà qún mǒuwù)
⇒ an army of volunteers一大群志愿者 (yī dà qún zhìyuànzhě)
cpd
[officer, unit, uniform]军(軍)队(隊) (jūnduì)
All related terms of 'army'
the army
军(軍)队(隊) jūnduì ⇒ He joined the army. → 他参军了。 Tā cānjūn le.
Salvation Army
▶ the Salvation Army 救世军(軍) Jiùshìjūn
an army of sth
一大群某物 yī dà qún mǒuwù ⇒ an army of volunteers → 一大群志愿者 yī dà qún zhìyuànzhě
the Salvation Army
救世军(軍) Jiùshìjūn
IRA
Irish Republican Army 爱(愛)尔(爾)兰(蘭)共和军(軍) Ài'ěrlán Gònghéjūn
1 (noun)
Definition
the military land forces of a nation
After returning from abroad, he joined the army.
Synonyms
soldiers
military
troops
armed force
legions
infantry
military force
land forces
land force
soldiery
2 (noun)
Definition
a large number of people or animals
data collected by an army of volunteers
Synonyms
vast number
host
A host of stars attended the awards ceremony.
gang
He was attacked by a gang of strangers.
mob
a growing mob of demonstrators
flock
his flock of advisors
array
legion
His sense of humour won him a legion of friends.
swarm
A swarm of people encircled the hotel.
sea
Down below them was the sea of upturned faces.
pack
a pack of journalists who wanted to interview him
horde
A horde of people was screaming for tickets.
multitude
Addiction to drugs can bring a multitude of other problems.
throng
An official pushed through the throng.
host (archaic)
A host of stars attended the awards ceremony.
Quotation
I don't know what effect these men will have upon the enemy, but, by God, they terrify me [Duke of Wellington]
proverb
An army marches on its stomach
Additional synonyms
in the sense of flock
Definition
a large number of people
his flock of advisors
Synonyms
crowd,
company,
group,
host,
collection,
mass,
gathering,
assembly,
convoy,
herd,
congregation,
horde,
multitude,
throng,
bevy
in the sense of gang
Definition
a group of people who go around together, often to commit crime
He was attacked by a gang of strangers.
Synonyms
group,
crowd,
pack,
company,
party,
lot,
band,
crew (informal),
bunch,
mob,
horde
in the sense of horde
Definition
a very large crowd, often frightening or unpleasant