garrison

UK: /ˈgærɪs^ən/ US: /ˈgærəsən/ ,(gar′ə sən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

gar•ri•son /ˈgærəsən/   n. 

[countable]
1. Military a body of troops stationed in a fortified place.
2. Military any military post.

v. [~ + object]

3. Military to provide (a fort, town, etc.) with a garrison.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

gar•ri•son  (gar′ə sən), n. 

1. Military a body of troops stationed in a fortified place.
2. Military the place where such troops are stationed.
3. Military any military post, esp. a permanent one.

v.t. 

4. Military to provide (a fort, town, etc.) with a garrison.
5. Military to occupy (a fort, post, station, etc.) with troops.
6. Military to put (troops) on duty in a fort, post, station, etc.

• Gmc; compare Old High German warjan
• Old French garison, gareison defense, provision, derivative of garir, guerir to defend
• Middle English garisoun protection, stronghold 1250–1300

Gar•ri•son  (gar′ə sən), n. 

1. Biographical William Lloyd, 1805–79, U.S. leader in the abolition movement.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

garrison / ˈɡærɪs^ən/ noun

1. the troops who maintain and guard a base or fortified place
2. the place itself
3. (as modifier): a garrison town

verb

1. (transitive) to station (troops) in (a fort)

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French garison, from garir to defend, of Germanic origin; compare Old Norse verja to defend, Old English, Old High German werian