territorial army: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Official, Military
Quick answer
What does “territorial army” mean?
A military reserve force composed of part-time volunteers, intended for home defence and to support the regular army.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A military reserve force composed of part-time volunteers, intended for home defence and to support the regular army.
A reserve military organization, often with a long history and local/regional affiliations, that can be mobilized in times of national emergency, war, or civil crisis. It may also refer to similar organizations in other countries, though often capitalized when referring to a specific national force (e.g., the British Territorial Army, now the Army Reserve).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'Territorial Army' (TA) is a specific, historical term for the volunteer reserve force, now officially the 'Army Reserve'. In the US, the equivalent is the 'Army National Guard' and 'Army Reserve'. The generic term 'territorial army' (lowercase) is rarely used in American English to describe US forces.
Connotations
UK: Evokes tradition, local community ties, part-time service. US: The concept is associated with the 'National Guard', which has a strong state-based identity and frequent domestic deployment roles.
Frequency
High frequency in UK historical and military contexts; low frequency in general US English, where 'National Guard' is standard.
Grammar
How to Use “territorial army” in a Sentence
[Subject] serves in the Territorial Army.The [Country] Territorial Army was mobilized.He was a member of the Territorial Army.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “territorial army” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He decided to territorial army for a few years after university. (Note: This is highly non-standard and illustrative of a potential error; the correct phrasing is 'join the Territorial Army'.)
American English
- The state may territorial army its militia in an emergency. (Note: This is highly non-standard and illustrative of a potential error; the correct phrasing is 'mobilize its National Guard'.)
adverb
British English
- He served territorial-army-style, one weekend a month. (hyphenated compound adverb, informal)
American English
- The troops were trained territorial-army-fashion. (hyphenated compound adverb, informal/rare)
adjective
British English
- He held a Territorial Army commission.
- The old Territorial Army barracks were sold.
American English
- The territorial army concept is less common in the US system. (generic use)
- A territorial army unit was mentioned in the historical document.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in contexts of employee reservist policies: 'The company supports staff who are members of the Territorial Army.'
Academic
Used in historical, political science, or military studies texts discussing reserve force structures and civil-military relations.
Everyday
Used when discussing someone's part-time military service, or in historical recollection: 'My grandfather was in the Territorial Army before the war.'
Technical
Specific military and defence policy terminology, referring to the structure, recruitment, and deployment of reserve components.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “territorial army”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “territorial army”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “territorial army”
- Using 'Territorial Army' to refer to the US National Guard. (Use 'National Guard' for the US.)
- Capitalizing incorrectly when used generically: 'Many countries have a territorial army.' (lowercase 't') vs. 'He served in the Territorial Army.' (capitalized as a proper noun for the UK force).
- Thinking it is a full-time, professional force.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Territorial Army (now Army Reserve in the UK) is a part-time, volunteer reserve force. The regular army consists of full-time professional soldiers.
Yes. Members of the Territorial Army (Army Reserve) can be, and have been, mobilized and deployed alongside the regular army in conflicts, such as in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The closest equivalents are the Army National Guard and the United States Army Reserve. The National Guard has a dual state/federal role, which differs from the UK model.
The UK Ministry of Defence stated the change (in 2014) was to better reflect the modern, integrated role of reservists with the regular army and to aid recruitment, moving away from an older, more locally-focused image.
A military reserve force composed of part-time volunteers, intended for home defence and to support the regular army.
Territorial army is usually formal, official, military in register.
Territorial army: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtɛr.ɪˈtɔː.ri.əl ˈɑː.mi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌter.ɪˈtɔːr.i.əl ˈɑːr.mi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Weekend warrior (colloquial, sometimes applied to Territorial Army members)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'territory' + 'army' = an army for defending home territory, made of local volunteers.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE NATION IS A BODY, THE RESERVES ARE A SLEEPING MUSCLE (can be flexed when needed).
Practice
Quiz
In which country is 'Territorial Army' a specific, historical term for the primary army reserve?