garrison

noun

gar·ri·son | \ ˈger-ə-sən

, ˈga-rə-\

Definition of garrison

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : a military post especially : a permanent military installation

2 : the troops stationed at a garrison

garrison

verb

garrisoned; garrisoning\ ˈger-ə-s(ə-)niŋ

, ˈga-rə- \

Definition of garrison (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to station troops in

2a : to assign as a garrison

b : to occupy with troops

Garrison

biographical name

Gar·ri·son | \ ˈger-ə-sən

, ˈga-rə-sən\

Definition of Garrison (Entry 3 of 3)

William Lloyd 1805–1879 American abolitionist

Examples of garrison in a Sentence

Noun

a garrison of 5,000 men

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The People's Liberation Army troop movements were carried out in the dead of the night, and took place at the same time as a rotation of the garrison in neighboring Macao. — James Griffiths, CNN, "Chinese military's routine rotation of new troops to Hong Kong garrison raises alarm," 29 Aug. 2019 The threat became so dire that Union authorities constructed a large military garrison outside Los Angeles, and arrested a number of local secessionists, to prevent the region from slipping into rebel hands. — Kevin Waite, The New Republic, "California’s Forgotten Confederate History," 19 Aug. 2019 Pakistan’s top military commanders met in the garrison city of Rawalpindi to discuss the changes in Kashmir. — Emily Schmall, USA TODAY, "Indian troops lock down its only Muslim-majority state, Pakistan warns of war," 9 Aug. 2019 So only part of the garrison is in Hong Kong at any given time. — Austin Ramzy, New York Times, "How many Chinese soldiers are in Hong Kong?," 25 July 2019 In an unsubtle message, the garrison released a video showing Chinese forces using machine-guns to suppress mock riots. — The Economist, "Hong Kong remains crucially important to mainland China," 8 Aug. 2019 And last week the Hong Kong garrison of the Chinese military released a video of it training to handle mass unrest. — Austin Ramzy, New York Times, "Chinese Official Warns Hong Kong Protesters Against ‘Color Revolution’," 7 Aug. 2019 Still, Yang appeared to strike a restrained note days after the PLA garrison in Hong Kong released a provocative video showing Chinese soldiers training to put down civil unrest. — Washington Post, "Will China crush Hong Kong protests? For Beijing, there are no good options," 6 Aug. 2019 Last week, the Hong Kong garrison released a video showing its troops training to confront protesters. — Austin Ramzy, BostonGlobe.com, "China warns Hong Kong protesters not to ‘take restraint for weakness’," 6 Aug. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The Syrian troops garrisoned there were well-equipped and dug in. — The Economist, "Bashar al-Assad’s ruinous campaign to retake Idlib from Syrian rebels," 6 June 2019 A few days later, past midnight, a dozen outgunned American ships, including Juneau, intercepted a Japanese armada approaching the island to bombard its critical airfield and the beleaguered U.S. Marines garrisoned there. — Chris Stirewalt, Fox News, "The House is revolting," 25 May 2018 Brennan’s version of Moscow is Vershinin (a charismatic Chiké Johnson), commander of the troops garrisoned in town and quixotic seeker – in a play filled with them, each one given texture by Brown’s excellent ensemble – for the meaning of existence. — Mike Fischer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "'Three Sisters' yearn for a better life, against the odds," 14 Aug. 2017 A fortress built between the 11th and 14th century helped the friars withstand pirates, Saracen attacks and occupation by Spanish raiders, until Louis XIV garrisoned the island in the 1600s. — Jennifer Ladonne, CNN, "Cannes day trips: The island retreats of Îles de Lérins," 24 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'garrison.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for garrison

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

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More Definitions for garrison

garrison

noun

English Language Learners Definition of garrison

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a military camp, fort, or base

: a group of soldiers who are living at a garrison

garrison

verb

English Language Learners Definition of garrison (Entry 2 of 2)

: to send soldiers to (a place) in order to defend it

: to send (soldiers) to live in and defend a place

See the full definition for garrison in the English Language Learners Dictionary

garrison

noun

gar·ri·son | \ ˈger-ə-sən

Kids Definition of garrison

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a military camp, fort, or base

2 : the soldiers stationed at a garrison

garrison

verb

garrisoned; garrisoning

Kids Definition of garrison (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to station troops in The fort was only temporarily garrisoned.

2 : to send (troops) to live in and defend It became necessay to garrison troops in the town.

garrison

Definition of garrison

Examples of garrison in a Sentence

First Known Use of garrison

History and Etymology for garrison

English Language Learners Definition of garrison

Kids Definition of garrison

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