army intelligence: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal / Technical / Military
Quick answer
What does “army intelligence” mean?
The military unit responsible for gathering, analyzing, and using information about enemy forces, terrain, and other relevant factors to support operational and strategic decision-making.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The military unit responsible for gathering, analyzing, and using information about enemy forces, terrain, and other relevant factors to support operational and strategic decision-making.
Can refer more generally to the organizational function of gathering and processing security information within a land-based military force. Sometimes used informally as a jocular oxymoron, suggesting the terms 'army' and 'intelligence' are contradictory.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or structure. The broader organizational names differ (e.g., British Army Intelligence Corps vs. U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command).
Connotations
Identical in formal military contexts. The informal jocular use as an oxymoron is common in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in military, news, and historical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “army intelligence” in a Sentence
[Subject] works for army intelligence.[Subject] provided crucial army intelligence.The [noun] was based on army intelligence.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “army intelligence” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The unit was tasked to intelligence the enemy's position.
American English
- The unit was tasked to conduct intelligence operations on the border.
adverb
British English
- The operation proceeded intelligence-ly, based on the latest reports. (Highly marked/rare)
American English
- They acted intelligence-ly, avoiding the ambush. (Highly marked/rare)
adjective
British English
- He has an army intelligence background.
American English
- She holds an army intelligence position.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used. Possibly in risk analysis metaphors: 'We need market intelligence, not army intelligence.'
Academic
Used in military history, political science, and security studies papers.
Everyday
Rare. Used when discussing news about military operations or in the informal jocular sense.
Technical
Standard term in military doctrine, documents, and professional discourse.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “army intelligence”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “army intelligence”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “army intelligence”
- Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'an army intelligent report' is wrong).
- Confusing it with 'artificial intelligence' in abbreviated contexts (AI vs. AI).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The CIA (US) and MI6 (UK) are civilian foreign intelligence agencies. Army intelligence is a branch of the military focused on tactical and operational intelligence for land forces.
No, that is a literal misinterpretation. It is an institutional term for the information-gathering branch, not a measure of individual cognitive ability.
'Military intelligence' is the broader category encompassing all armed services (navy, air force, etc.). 'Army intelligence' is a specific subset dealing with land warfare.
It plays on the stereotype of soldiers not being intellectual, thus presenting the phrase as a contradiction in terms (an oxymoron), like 'jumbo shrimp'.
The military unit responsible for gathering, analyzing, and using information about enemy forces, terrain, and other relevant factors to support operational and strategic decision-making.
Army intelligence is usually formal / technical / military in register.
Army intelligence: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɑː.mi ɪnˈtɛl.ɪ.dʒəns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɑːr.mi ɪnˈtɛl.ə.dʒəns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[used informally/jokingly] 'It's like army intelligence – two words that don't belong together.'”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a brain (intelligence) wearing a helmet (army). The brain's job is to gather secrets for the soldiers.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE IS A WEAPON. (Army intelligence provides the 'ammunition' of information for command decisions.)
Practice
Quiz
In informal, jocular use, 'army intelligence' is often treated as: