continental army: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowAcademic / Historical
Quick answer
What does “continental army” mean?
The unified military force of the thirteen American colonies, created by the Second Continental Congress in 1775 to fight against Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The unified military force of the thirteen American colonies, created by the Second Continental Congress in 1775 to fight against Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War.
It refers specifically to the main, national army of the revolutionary government, as distinct from state militias. Led by George Washington, it was a crucial institution in the founding of the United States.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively used in American historical contexts. In British historical contexts, it might be referred to neutrally as "the American army" or pejoratively as "the rebel army".
Connotations
In American English: heroic, foundational, patriotic. In British English: a historical opponent.
Frequency
Extremely rare in modern British English outside of specific historical discussions of the American Revolution.
Grammar
How to Use “continental army” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun] + [Past Tense Verb] (e.g., The Continental Army suffered at Valley Forge.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “continental army” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The colonies were forced to continentalise their militias to survive.
- [Note: This is an extremely rare, historical neologism]
American English
- The Congress moved to continentalize the disparate colonial forces.
adverb
British English
- [Not applicable. 'Continental' does not function as an adverb in this compound noun.]
American English
- [Not applicable. 'Continental' does not function as an adverb in this compound noun.]
adjective
British English
- The continental soldiers endured harsh winters. (historical reference)
- The museum displayed a Continental Army musket.
American English
- He is a descendant of a Continental soldier.
- They reenacted a Continental Army camp life.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical texts, papers, and discussions about the American Revolution.
Everyday
Very rarely used outside of educational or patriotic contexts (e.g., July 4th).
Technical
Used in military history as a specific classification for the 1775-1783 US national army.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “continental army”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “continental army”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “continental army”
- Writing it in lowercase (continental army).
- Using it to refer to any American army after 1783 (e.g., the Civil War Union Army is not the Continental Army).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Continental Army was the national army created by the Continental Congress. State militias were local defense forces controlled by individual colonies/states, though they often fought alongside the Continental Army.
Most of the Continental Army was disbanded after the Treaty of Paris in 1783. A small residual force formed the foundation of what later became the United States Army.
It was raised from and intended to represent all thirteen colonies on the North American continent, as opposed to a single colony's militia.
Yes, with crucial assistance from French forces, the Continental Army, under Washington's leadership, ultimately forced the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781, leading to American independence.
The unified military force of the thirteen American colonies, created by the Second Continental Congress in 1775 to fight against Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War.
Continental army is usually academic / historical in register.
Continental army: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒn.tɪˈnen.tl ˈɑː.mi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːn.təˈnen.t̬əl ˈɑːr.mi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No direct idioms. The term itself is historical.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think CONTINENTal Army – it was formed to fight for the whole CONTINENT of colonies, not just one state.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE NATION'S BODY (The army was the physical embodiment and defender of the fledgling nation).
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary opponent of the Continental Army?