army

The people and organisation, normally in a government, which fights wars.

The army fought in Iraq.

He joined the army when he was 19.


mine

A mine is a device that explodes when it is touched, or when a ship, vehicle, or person comes close to it.


company

A company' is a unit of an army, it usually consists of two or three platoons to form a battalion.


barrack

A barrack is a building for soldiers to live and sleep in. The building is more commonly called barracks. A barrack used to mean "a temporary hut", but now is usually used for permanent buildings.


soldier

A soldier is someone who is part of an army.

The soldier was shot in the war.


fighter

A fighter is small, fast airplane used for war.


offensive

offensive (singular)
offensives (plural)

The Marines today launched a major offensive.


baggage

An army's portable equipment; its baggage train.


swarm

swarm (canonical)
swarms (third-person singular)
swarmed (past)
swarmed (past participle)
swarming (present participle)


navy

He was a member of the navy.


posting

A posting is the place where a soldier is posted to for duty.

He will be moving to France for his new posting.


port

port (canonical)
ports (third-person singular)
ported (past)
ported (past participle)
porting (present participle)

If you port your weapon, you carry it diagonally across the body with the barrel near the left shoulder.


formation

formation (singular)
formations (plural)

A grouping of military units or smaller formations under a command, such as a brigade, division, wing, etc.

An arrangement of moving troops, ships, or aircraft, such as a wedge, line abreast, or echelon. Often "in formation".


missile

A self-propelled object whose path can be changed after having been launched.


reconnoitre

reconnoitre (canonical)
reconnoitres (third-person singular)
reconnoitred (past)
reconnoitred (past participle)
reconnoitring (present participle)

/ˌrɛkəˈnɔɪtə/

/ˌrɛkəˈnɔɪtɚ/

If you reconnoitre, you perform a reconnaissance of an area.

Our scout will reconnoitre the path ahead of our troops.


pitched battle

pitched battle (singular)
pitched battles (plural)

A hostile battle involving prolonged fighting between opposing forces in close combat.

1594, William Shakespeare, Taming of the Shrew, act 1, sc. 2:


line of march

line of march (singular)
lines of march (plural)

Course or direction taken by an army or body of troops in marching.


forced march

forced march (singular)
forced marches (plural)

Soldiers, especially infantry, moving at a faster than normal, even tiring pace.


morale

Morale is the feelings of how an army prepared for the acts of war.


cannon

A cannon is a large gun that is placed on the ground to shoot cannonballs by exploding gunpowder.


garrison

A garrison is a group of soldiers who stay in a place, such as a fort, usually to defend it from a possible attack.


vanguard

The vanguards are the leading units at the front of an army or fleet.


battalion

battalion (singular)
battalions (plural)

A battalion is an army unit. It usually has two or more companies and a headquarters.


conscript

conscript (singular)
conscripts (plural)

A conscript is a person who is enrolled into the compulsory military service.

The soldier was a conscript.


conscript

conscript (canonical)
conscripts (third-person singular)
conscripted (past)
conscripted (past participle)
conscripting (present participle)

If you are conscripted, you are enrolled into the compulsory military service.


tattoo

A tattoo is a drum performance or display.


veteran

A veteran is a person who has served in the army, especially an old soldier who has seen long service.


echelon

An echelon is a formation of troops, ships in diagonal parallel rows.


echelon

echelon (canonical)
echelons (third-person singular)
echeloned (past)
echeloned (past participle)
echeloning (present participle)

If you echelon, you form troops into an echelon.


musketeer

musketeer (singular)
musketeers (plural)

A musketeer is a foot soldier who is armed with a musket.

In 17th- and 18th-century France, a member of the royal household bodyguard.


bayonet

A bayonet is a blade that can be installed to the muzzle of a rifle and used to stab an opponent in close-combat fighting.


loadout

A loadout is a set of objects to be carried into battle.


cavalry

Cavalry is the military arm of service that fights while riding horses.

A cavalry is a single unit of the military arm.


squadron

A squadron is a unit in an air force unit that is made up of at least two aircrafts.


sortie

A sortie is an attack made by troops from a defensive position.


regiment

A regiment is a unit of armed troops under the command of an officer that consists of several smaller units.


top secret

If something is top secret, it is classified as something that is very important to a government and should not be made known to the public.


corps

A corps is an army formation that is made up of two or more divisions.


reconnoiter

reconnoiter (canonical)
reconnoiters (third-person singular)
reconnoitered (past)
reconnoitered (past participle)
reconnoitering (present participle)

/ˌrɛkəˈnɔɪtə/

/ˌrɛkəˈnɔɪtɚ/

If you reconnoiter, you perform a reconnaissance of an area.

Our scout will reconnoiter the path ahead of our troops.


crossfire

crossfire (singular)
crossfires (plural)

A crossfire is lines of fire from multiple positions that pass through a small area.


contingent

contingent (singular)
contingents (plural)


chaff

Chaff is small pieces of foil that is released from an aircraft so as to obstruct radar detection.


barrage

A barrage is a concentrated artillery attack over a wide area.


beachhead

beachhead (singular)
beachheads (plural)

A beachhead is an hostile area that is taken from the enemy by attacking forces.


chemical warfare

Chemical warfare is the use of chemicals as weapons in war.


extraction

extraction (singular)
extractions (plural)

Extraction is an act of removing someone from a hostile area to a secure location.


neutralize

neutralize (canonical)
neutralizes (third-person singular)
neutralized (past)
neutralized (past participle)
neutralizing (present participle)

If you neutralize a person, you kill them.


neutralise

neutralise (canonical)
neutralises (third-person singular)
neutralised (past)
neutralised (past participle)
neutralising (present participle)

If you neutralise a person, you kill them.


commandant

commandant (singular)
commandants (plural)

A commandant is a military officer who commands a specific unit or division.


air force

air force (singular)
air forces (plural)

An air force is the branch of a country's military which fights in the air.


bombardier

bombardier (singular)
bombardiers (plural)

A bombardier is a bomber crew member who aims and releases bombs.

A bombardier is a non-commissioned officer rank in artillery, equivalent to corporal.


airforce

An airforce is the branch of a country's military which fights in the air.


silo

A silo is an underground bunker that stores missiles.


airwoman

/ˈɛə.ˈwʊmən/

An airwoman is a member of an air force.


debrief

debrief (canonical)
debriefs (third-person singular)
debriefed (past)
debriefed (past participle)
debriefing (present participle)

If you debrief someone, you question them after a military mission in order to get more information.


deconflict

deconflict (canonical)
deconflicts (third-person singular)
deconflicted (past)
deconflicted (past participle)
deconflicting (present participle)

If you deconflict aircrafts, you reduce the risk of collision between them by coordinating their movements.


bomber

A bomber is an aircraft that drops bombs.

Several bombers were spotted flying over international waters.


detachment

detachment (singular)
detachments (plural)

A detachment is the separation of a military unit sent for a particular mission.

A detachment is the unit that is dispatched.


commodore

commodore (singular)
commodores (plural)

A commodore is a naval officer who holds a rank between captain and rear admiral.


aircraft carrier

aircraft carrier (singular)
aircraft carriers (plural)

An aircraft carrier is a warship that is designed to carry aircraft and has a deck where aircraft can be launched and landed.


warship

A warship is any type of ship that is built for armed combat.


overkill

/ˈəʊ.vəˌkɪl/

An overkill is the destructive capacity the exceeds the amount of what is needed.


siege

A siege is a prolonged military assault on a place with the intent of conquering it.


shrapnel

Shrapnel is the debris or fragments thrown out by an explosive.


booby trap

booby trap (singular)
booby traps (plural)

A booby trap is an explosive device that is disguised as a harmless object.


salvo

salvo (singular)
salvos or salvoes (plural)

A salvo is a concentrated fire of artillery in a battle.


blouse

blouse (canonical)
blouses (third-person singular)
bloused (past)
bloused (past participle)
blousing (present participle)

If you blouse, you tuck your pants into your boots.


unblouse

unblouse (canonical)
unblouses (third-person singular)
unbloused (past)
unbloused (past participle)
unblousing (present participle)

If you unblouse, you untuck your pants from your boots.


gendarmerie

gendarmerie (singular)
gendarmeries (plural)

A gendarmerie is a military body that is in charge with police duties among the civilian population.


trooper

A trooper is a soldier of private rank in cavalry or armour.


loophole

loophole (canonical)
loopholes (third-person singular)
loopholed (past)
loopholed (past participle)
loopholing (present participle)

If you loophole a building, you prepare it for defense by preparing slits or holes to attack any invaders.


flagship

A flagship is the ship that is carrying the fleet's commander who is usually an admiral.


gunner

A gunner is an artillery soldier, especially one who holds private rank.


pike

A pike is a very long spear used by infantry soldiers for thrusting attacks on enemies and as a countermeasure against cavalry assaults.


dogfight

A dogfight is a close combat between two or more military aircraft, especially between fighters.


indent

An indent is an official order for supplies.


indent

indent (canonical)
indents (third-person singular)
indented (past)
indented (past participle)
indenting (present participle)

If you indent supplies, you make an official order for it.


loadmaster

loadmaster (singular)
loadmasters (plural)

A loadmaster is the member of an aircrew who is responsible for the loading and internal stowage of heavy cargo.


adjutant

An adjutant is a lower-ranking officer who assists a higher-ranking officer with administrative work.