reservist
ri-ZUR-vist
/rɪˈzɜːrvɪst/
a member of a military reserve force.
Someone who is not on active duty in the regular military but is trained and equipped to be called upon for service in an emergency or during a time of increased military need.
The story behind the word. The word 'reservist' is derived from 'reserve,' which comes from the Latin 'reservare,' meaning 'to keep back, save.' In a military context, a 'reserve' force is kept back or held in readiness for future use. A 'reservist' is simply a member of this force, ready to be called upon when needed, but not on active duty full-time.
Word relationships
- militiaman: A member of a non-professional army, often called up in emergencies; can be less formally organized than a reservist.
- active-duty soldier: A soldier currently serving full-time in the military.
- civilian: A person not in the armed services or police force.
Commonly confused with
- veteran: A 'reservist' is currently in a reserve military capacity, while a 'veteran' is someone who has served in the armed forces and is no longer serving (or is retired).
Word family
- reserve (noun): a body of troops withheld from action to reinforce or protect others; a military force that is not part of the regular army but is available in an emergency.
Collocations
- military reservist
- army reservist
- call up reservists
- active reservist
Example sentences
- "When the conflict intensified, thousands of reservists were called up to augment the active-duty forces." Military deployment
- "During the week, she works as a teacher, but on weekends, she trains as a reservist with her local National Guard unit." Civilian life
- "The reservists played a crucial role in disaster relief efforts, providing logistical support and medical aid." Emergency response
Memory hook
A 'reservist' is kept 'in RESERVE' for when they are needed. Reservist = IN RESERVE
When not to use
Do not use 'reservist' for active-duty military personnel or for civilians with no military affiliation. It specifically refers to those in a reserve capacity.
Fun facts
- Many countries rely heavily on their military reserve forces to supplement their active-duty personnel during conflicts or national emergencies.
Explore more words
militia, reserve, Reserves, veteran, insurrectionist, preparedness
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.