standing army

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When the Berlin Wall came down and the Soviet Union collapsed, the need for a large standing army seemed like a thing of the past.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

The opportunities for repression are boundless, which is one reason why the Framers were so hostile to the idea of a standing army responsible for domestic security.

From Slate • Oct. 21, 2025

After chairing an emergency Cobra meeting of ministers and senior police chiefs, Sir Keir announced a "standing army" of specialist officers to tackle the disorder.

From BBC • Aug. 6, 2024

Haiti hasn’t had a standing army or a well-funded and robust national police force for decades.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 9, 2024

Bloom had no idea whether Russia even had a standing army, let alone how many soldiers it might include and how many square feet they would cover.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson