garrison

1 of 2

noun

gar·​ri·​son ˈger-ə-sən 

ˈga-rə-

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 

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

Noun

Medieval Skeleton Reveals What Life Was Like With a Disability in the Middle Ages A Snapshot of Medieval Life Grave inside the garrison. —Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 29 May 2025

Indian missiles Saturday targeted the Nur Khan air base in Pakistan’s garrison city of Rawalpindi, near the capital, Islamabad; Murid air base in Chakwal city and Rafiqui air base in the Jhang district of eastern Punjab province, according to Pakistan’s military spokesman. —Riazat Butt, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2025

Verb

Around 800,000 Ukrainian troops oppose them, but the Ukrainians must garrison the entire country, whereas the Russians are concentrated in Kursk and Donetsk—giving the Russians a three-to-one advantage, or greater, in many of the most important sectors. —David Axe, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025

Around 800,000 Ukrainian troops oppose them, but the Ukrainians must garrison the entire country, whereas the Russians are concentrated in Kursk and Donetsk—giving the Russians a three-to-one advantage, or greater, in many of the most important sectors. —David Axe, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025

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

Phrases Containing garrison

• garrison cap
• garrison house
• garrison state

Kids Definition

garrison

1 of 2 noun

gar·​ri·​son ˈgar-ə-sən 

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 

1

: to station troops in

2

: to send (troops) to a garrison

Biographical Definition

Garrison

biographical name

Gar·​ri·​son ˈger-ə-sən 

ˈga-rə-sən

William Lloyd 1805–1879 American abolitionist