What does army mean?
An army is a large, highly organized military force composed of soldiers trained and equipped for combat on land, typically forming the principal ground branch of a nation's armed forces alongside the navy and air force. The word also carries a well-established figurative sense: 'an army' can describe any vast, disciplined multitude united by a shared purpose, as in 'an army of volunteers' or 'an army of ants'. This extended usage lends the word a vivid, energetic quality that writers exploit for emphasis. In formal contexts, especially when capitalized, 'Army' refers specifically to a country's ground-force institution, such as the British Army or the U.S. Army. Derived from Latin roots relating to arms and weaponry, the term carries connotations of discipline, scale, and collective effort. It remains among the most widely recognized words in English for describing both literal military organization and metaphorical masses.
A large organized body of soldiers trained and equipped for fighting on land.
"The army mobilized along the border within hours."
When capitalized, 'the Army' usually denotes a specific national ground-force branch rather than the military collectively.
A very large organized group of people or things acting together toward a common purpose.
"She faced an army of reporters outside her office."
The plural 'armies' refers either to multiple national forces or to multiple large groups in the figurative sense; it takes standard third-person verb agreement.
"The two armies met on the open plain at dawn."
The word 'army' comes from Latin 'arma' — the same root that gives us 'armadillo', whose name literally means 'little armored one'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of army
The English word 'army' derives from Old French 'armée', meaning an armed force, which itself came from Medieval Latin 'armata'. The ultimate source is the Latin noun 'arma', meaning arms or weapons, the same root that gives us related words such as 'armament', 'armor', and 'armory'. The term entered Middle English during the medieval period, replacing older Germanic terms for military hosts, and has retained its core sense of a large organized fighting force ever since.
How army is actually used
In its figurative sense, 'an army of' is common in informal and journalistic writing to describe large crowds or quantities. When capitalized as 'the Army' it often refers specifically to a particular country's ground forces branch (e.g. 'the U.S. Army'), distinct from the navy or air force.
Easily confused with army
An army is a land-based military force, while a navy is a nation's sea-going military force.
An armory is a place where weapons are stored, not the force of soldiers itself.