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
When the garrison was withdrawn in 1817, Cpl. — NPR, 4 Apr. 2026 It was founded in 1621 as a garrison against the marauding Danes. — Laura Moser, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2026
Verb
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 In response, the government had garrisoned six regiments of soldiers in the town, in a domestic invasion that became a kind of slow-burning civil war of factory owners, supported by the state, against workers. — Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2023 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

Rhymes for garrison

See All Rhymes for garrison

Browse Nearby Words

garring
garrison
Garrison
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Cite this Entry

“Garrison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/garrison. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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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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