Talking about War: English Vocabulary List

a massive group of warships organized for military or strategic purposes

"The Spanish Armada was defeated by the English navy in 1588."

"The Spanish Armada was a massive fleet of ships sent by King Philip to invade England in the year fifteen eighty-eight."

a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army, often motivated by payment rather than ideological or national allegiance

"The mercenary fought only for gold"

"The army hired a group of mercenaries to fight in the conflict because they needed experienced soldiers but did not want to risk their own citizens."

a temporary stoppage or truce in hostilities between parties engaged in a war or conflict

"The armistice stopped the fighting while the leaders talked peace."

"An armistice is a formal temporary ceasefire agreement between warring parties"

a defensive barrier erected during wartime to obstruct enemy movement and provide protection for defending forces

"They built a barricade."

"The soldiers quickly erected a barricade across the road to prevent the enemy's advance."

a military unit composed of a varying number of companies or platoons, typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel

"A battalion of soldiers marched through the town in formation."

"A battalion is a medium-sized military unit typically composed of several hundred soldiers"

a military unit, subdivision of a company, typically with a headquarters and two or more squads, usually led by a lieutenant

"The platoon marched through the forest."

"The lieutenant commanded a platoon of forty soldiers who were responsible for securing the small village from enemy forces."

the covert gathering of information for political, military, or economic purposes, often conducted by intelligence agencies

"The spy was caught and charged with espionage against the state."

"Espionage is the clandestine practice of obtaining secret political or military information from a rival nation without the permission of the holder of that sensitive data."

a person who participates in irregular fighting as a member of an unofficial military group

"The guerrilla fighters hid in the jungle and attacked at night."

"A guerrilla is an irregular combatant who uses hit-and-run tactics against a larger conventional army"

a fierce and intense attack, often with the goal of overwhelming the opponent

"The onslaught was fierce."

"The army launched a fierce onslaught against the enemy's fortified position."

the military equipment and weaponry used by a country or military force

"The country increased its armament before the coming war."

"Armament refers to the total military weapons and equipment possessed by a nation"

big heavy guns that are attached on top of moving wheels or tracks

"The artillery shelled the enemy positions all through the night."

"Artillery is a class of heavy long-range weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range of infantry firearms"

a large weapon that was used in ancient times to throw stones or other objects with great force

"The catapult hurled stones at the castle walls."

"The medieval army used a large catapult to hurl heavy stones over the castle walls and break down the defenses from a safe distance."

a portable rocket launcher designed for use against tanks and armored vehicles

"The soldier fired a bazooka at the advancing enemy tank."

"A bazooka is a portable shoulder-fired rocket launcher developed during World War II"

to thrust or strike with a long-pointed weapon

"He lanced the wound."

"The knight prepared to lance his opponent with his sharp, pointed weapon."

fragments from an explosion, causing damage to surroundings

"The bomb exploded and sent shrapnel flying everywhere."

"Shrapnel consists of small metal fragments scattered by an exploding shell or bomb"

an early firearm with a long barrel, used by infantry from the 16th to 18th centuries

"The soldier carried a long musket into the old battle."

"The museum displayed an antique musket from the seventeenth century war."

a public fight involving a group of people, typically causing a disturbance or public disorder

"The police stopped a violent affray outside the nightclub."

"The police arrested several men for affray after a loud and violent public fight broke out in the town square late at night."

an attack by aircraft, typically involving the dropping of bombs, on a location or a series of locations

"The air raid destroyed many buildings in the city center."

"The air raid sirens warned citizens to take cover in underground shelters as enemy planes approached the city at dusk."

an area in hostile territory captured and secured as a foothold for further troops and supplies

"The troops secured a bridgehead on the other side of the river."

"The advancing troops established a small bridgehead on the opposite side of the river before dawn to prepare for the main attack."

an individual who is forced to flee from a dangerous place or region

"The evacuee fled the flood zone by bus."

"The evacuee carried only a small suitcase when she left her flooded home and went to the emergency shelter set up by the Red Cross."

a military stronghold where soldiers are stationed for defense

"The garrison held the fort against the enemy for many days."

"A garrison is a permanent military base housing troops assigned to defend a specific strategic location"

to plunder, typically during times of war or civil unrest

"The invaders pillaged the entire village."

"The invading soldiers continued to pillage every village they encountered on their march through the valley."

to steal goods from a place or person, especially during times of war, chaos, or civil disorder

"The pirates plundered the treasure ship."

"The pirates sailed along the coast looking for ships to plunder and towns to raid for treasure."

to attack ground targets, such as enemy troops or installations, with gunfire from low-flying aircraft

"The fighter jets strafed the ground targets."

"The enemy fighter planes flew low to strafe the convoy with machine gun fire."

to maneuver around the side of an enemy force, position, or defensive line in order to gain a tactical advantage

"The general outflanked the enemy army."

"The general sent his cavalry to outflank the enemy and attack from the rear."

to destroy someone or something completely

"The bomb annihilated the entire building."

"The superior force managed to annihilate the enemy army in a single decisive battle."

to defeat someone completely and decisively

"The hero vanquished the evil dragon."

"The hero managed to vanquish the evil dragon and save the kingdom from destruction."