recruit
ri-KROOT
/rɪˈkruːt/
(v) to enlist (someone) in the armed forces; (n) a person newly enlisted or drafted.
As a verb, it describes the active process of seeking out and signing up new members. As a noun, it refers to a new, often inexperienced, member of the military or any organization.
The story behind the word. The word 'recruit' comes from the Old French 'recruter,' meaning 'to raise new troops.' This, in turn, comes from 'recroître,' meaning 'to grow again' or 'to replenish,' derived from the Latin 're-' (again) and 'crescere' (to grow). So, to 'recruit' an army was originally to 'grow it again' or 'replenish its numbers' after losses.
Word relationships
- enlist (v): To join voluntarily; 'recruit' is the act of bringing someone in.
- enroll (v): To officially register someone as a member.
- conscript (v): To compel someone into service; 'recruit' can be voluntary or involuntary.
- discharge (v): To release from service.
- demobilize (v): To disband troops.
Commonly confused with
- enlist: 'Recruit' is the act of seeking and signing up new members (done by the organization), while 'enlist' is the act of joining (done by the individual).
Word family
- recruitment (noun): the action of enlisting new people in the armed forces or an organization.
- recruiter (noun): a person whose job is to enlist or enroll people.
Collocations
- recruit new members
- recruit soldiers
- military recruit
- fresh recruit
Example sentences
- "The army launched a new campaign to recruit young people, highlighting career opportunities and benefits." Military recruitment efforts
- "The new recruit struggled with the physical demands of basic training but showed great determination." Referring to a new member
- "The company is looking to recruit talented software engineers for its expanding team." General business context
Memory hook
To 'recruit' is to 're-GROW' the ranks of an organization. Recruit = RE-GROW
When not to use
While 'recruit' can be used for any organization, its military context specifically refers to bringing new people into service. Do not use it for existing members.
Fun facts
- The term 'boot camp' is often used informally to refer to the initial training period for new military recruits.
Also appears in
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