garrison

1 of 2

noun

gar·​ri·​son ˈger-ə-sən How to pronounce garrison (audio)
ˈga-rə-
Synonyms of garrisonnext
1
: a military post
especially : a permanent military installation
2
: the troops stationed at a garrison

garrison

2 of 2

verb

garrisoned; garrisoning ˈger-ə-s(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce garrison (audio)
ˈga-rə-

transitive verb

1
: to station troops in
2
a
: to assign as a garrison
b
: to occupy with troops

Examples of garrison in a Sentence

Noun a garrison of 5,000 men
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Eleven projects valued at more than $1 billion are expected to be completed by September 2026 under the Humphreys modernization plan, said Daniel Hancock, deputy to the garrison commander. —Mike Valerio, CNN, 2 Sep. 2024 Eight years later, in the early months of Russia’s wider invasion of Ukraine, the rebuilt battalion joined the garrison in Mariupol on the Black Sea coast. —David Axe, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
Verb
The area is garrisoned by the Ukrainian army’s 33rd Assault Battalion and 41st Mechanized Brigade. —David Axe, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024 Russian defenses in 2023 were deep, well prepared, fronted by extensive minefields, backed by mobile reserves, and garrisoned by troops who fought hard when attacked. —Stephen Biddle, Foreign Affairs, 29 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for garrison 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English garisoun "wealth, gift, tribute, protection, fortified place, body of soldiers," borrowed from Anglo-French garisun "protection, cure, income, supplies," from garir "to support, protect, cure" (going back to Old Low Franconian *warjan "to defend, prevent," going back to Germanic *warjan-) + -isun, deverbal noun suffix, going back to Latin -ītiōn-, -ītiō, from -ī-, verb stem formative + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at weir

Note: The Middle English sense "fortified place, body of soldiers" reflects confusion with Middle English garnisoun and Anglo-French garnisun "fortified place, body of armed men stationed in such a place," from Anglo-French garnir "to give notice, equip, arm, fortify" (see garnish entry 1) + the same suffix seen in garisun.

Verb

derivative of garrison entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1569, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of garrison was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing garrison

Dictionary Entries Near garrison

garring

garrison

Garrison

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Garrison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/garrison. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

garrison

1 of 2 noun
gar·​ri·​son ˈgar-ə-sən How to pronounce garrison (audio)
1
: a military post
especially : a permanent military installation
2
: the troops stationed at a garrison

garrison

2 of 2 verb
garrisoned; garrisoning ˈgar-əs(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce garrison (audio)
1
: to station troops in
2
: to send (troops) to a garrison

Biographical Definition

Garrison

biographical name

Gar·​ri·​son ˈger-ə-sən How to pronounce Garrison (audio)
ˈga-rə-sən
William Lloyd 1805–1879 American abolitionist

More from Merriam-Webster on garrison

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for garrison

Nglish: Translation of garrison for Spanish Speakers

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