Added 7 October 2026
army
/ˈɑː.mi/ noun
In Latin: exercitus Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about army at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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A large, highly organized military force, concerned mainly with ground (rather than air or naval) operations.
The army was sent in to quell the uprising.
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Used absolutely for that entire branch of the armed forces.
The army received a bigger share of this year's budget increase than the navy or air force.
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Within a vast military, a very large tactical contingent (e.g. a number of divisions).
The Fourth Army suffered such losses that its remainders were merged into the Second Army, also deployed on the Western front.
Origin
From (1386) Middle English armee, borrowed from Old French armee (cf. modern French armée), from Medieval Latin armāta (“armed force”), a noun taken from the past participle of Latin armāre (“to arm”), itself related to arma (“tools, arms”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂er- (“to join, fit together”). Doublet of armada. Displaced native Old English here and fierd.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)