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army

Pronunciation: /ˈɑː.mi/

The English word “army” has 8 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. A large, highly organized military force, concerned mainly with ground (rather than air or naval) operations.
  2. Used absolutely for that entire branch of the armed forces.
  3. Within a vast military, a very large tactical contingent (e.g. a number of divisions).
  4. The governmental agency in charge of a state's army.
  5. A large group of people working toward the same purpose.
  6. A large group of animals, especially caterpillars or social insects working toward the same purpose.
  7. Any multitude.
  8. The military as a whole.

Etymology

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.

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