English Lexicon

Reserve Forces

/rɪˈzɜrv ˈfɔrsɪz/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #15000 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    Military personnel who are not in active service but can be mobilized when necessary.

    "The country relies on its reserve forces to bolster its military capabilities during times of crisis."
  2. 2

    A group of trained individuals who serve part-time in a military capacity.

    "Many citizens join the reserve forces to serve their country while pursuing civilian careers."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term 'reserve' originates from the Latin 'reservare', meaning 'to keep back'. 'Forces' comes from the Latin 'fortis', meaning 'strong'. The combination reflects military terminology from the 19th century, denoting troops that are not in active service but can be called upon when needed.

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