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garrison

GAIR-uh-suhn /ˈɡærɪsən/

nounverbC1GREUPSC

historicalmilitaryformal

A body of troops stationed in a fortified place to defend it; also, the physical fort or station itself.

Refers specifically to defensive troops assigned to a permanent post, rather than mobile field armies.

The story behind the word. Garrison comes from the Old French 'garison', which meant 'defense, safety, or provision'. It is closely related to the Germanic root that gave us 'warrant' and 'guard'. Originally, it referred to the act of defending, but over time, it came to mean the actual troops doing the defending.

Word relationships

fortress: A fortress is the physical defensive building, while a garrison refers primarily to the troops stationed inside it.
stronghold: A stronghold is a fortified place of survival, whereas a garrison is specifically a military station with active troops.

invaders: Invaders are external forces attacking a location, whereas a garrison is the internal force defending it.

Commonly confused with

battalion: A battalion is a mobile tactical military unit, whereas a garrison is tied to a specific defensive location.

Word family

garrisoned (adjective): Provided with a garrison of defending troops.

Collocations

garrison town
stationed garrison
garrison duty

Example sentences

"The small garrison at Fort Sumter was running dangerously low on supplies before the first shots were fired." Historical account of the American Civil War.

Memory hook

Think of a 'garrison' as a group of soldiers 'carrying on' the defense of a fort. Garrison soldiers carry on the fort's defense.

When not to use

Do not use for troops that are actively marching, attacking, or operating in mobile field campaigns.

Fun facts

The term 'garrison finish' in horse racing refers to a dramatic, come-from-behind victory, named after the 19th-century jockey Snapper Garrison.