Legal Definitions - army

An army generally refers to a large, organized body of individuals. Most commonly, it denotes a nation's official military force, primarily composed of ground troops, trained, equipped, and deployed for defense, combat, or peacekeeping operations.

More broadly, the term can also describe any substantial group of people organized and prepared for a specific purpose, sometimes involving conflict, or simply a vast, highly structured collective working towards a common goal.

• Example 1 (National Military Force):

  After a neighboring country violated international borders, the nation's army was mobilized, deploying thousands of soldiers, tanks, and artillery units to reinforce defensive positions along the frontier.

  Explanation: This illustrates the primary meaning of an army as a sovereign nation's official military branch, specifically its ground forces, prepared for and engaged in defense or combat.

• Example 2 (Non-State Armed Group):

  In a region plagued by civil unrest, a well-organized rebel army, comprising several thousand armed fighters, managed to seize control of key infrastructure and establish a provisional administration.

  Explanation: This demonstrates the broader application of the term to a substantial group of individuals armed for combat, even if they are not part of a recognized national military or are operating outside of state authority.

• Example 3 (Vast, Organized Group for a Purpose):

  Following a devastating earthquake, a "volunteer army" of medical professionals, engineers, and general laborers descended upon the affected areas, meticulously coordinating efforts to provide aid, rebuild infrastructure, and search for survivors.

  Explanation: This example uses "army" in a figurative sense to describe a vast, highly organized group of people working together with discipline and purpose towards a significant, often challenging, objective, even without military equipment or combat roles.