War and Army: 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 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 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 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 sudden, violent seizure of governmental power by a small group

"They staged a coup d'etat."

"The military carried out a violent coup d'etat."

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"

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"

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."

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 thrust or strike with a long-pointed weapon

"He lanced the wound."

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

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 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."

the act of surrounding the enemy, a town, etc. and cutting off their supplies so that they would surrender

"The castle was under siege for six months."

"The city was under siege for six months before the defenders finally ran out of food and were forced to surrender to the attacking army."

to make a counterattack or respond in a similar manner

"The army retaliated against the attack."

"The small country threatened to retaliate if the neighboring nation continued its military aggression."

a building, complex, or site used for producing, keeping, or repairing arms and ammunition

"The army kept its weapons in a secret underground arsenal."

"An arsenal is a secure military storage facility for weapons and ammunition"

a military strategy or capability designed to dissuade an adversary from aggression

"Nuclear weapons are seen as a deterrent against major war."

"A deterrent is a military capability designed to discourage an enemy from attacking by threatening an unacceptably severe and certain retaliatory response to aggression."

bullets, shells, or other projectiles used in firearms

"The truck carried ammunition for the soldiers at the front."

"Ammunition is the projectiles and propellant charges fired from weapons"

a short-barreled, muzzle-loaded artillery piece that fires explosive shells at high angles for close-range support

"The mortar fired shells high over the hill into the camp."

"The mortar launched explosive shells over the wall into enemy territory."

to carry out a sudden and intense military attack

"The army blitzed the enemy positions."

"The army planned to blitz the enemy positions with a rapid and overwhelming attack at dawn."