under arms

adjective

Equipped with weapons (of a country, army etc.); in a state of armed, military readiness.

First used 17th c.
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

adjectiveunder arms (not comparable)
  1. not comparablegovernmentEquipped with weapons (of a country, army etc.); in a state of armed, military readiness.First known use 17th c.

    The Taliban have only about 40,000 men under arms.

    1998 September 20, New York Times
    1 more example

    They were preceded by a small party of the national guard, in their uniform, and under arms.

    1792, Charlotte Smith, Desmond, Broadview, published 2001, page 325
  2. Australianot comparableCarrying a weapon (chiefly of a criminal); of a crime, committed using a weapon or weapons.First known use 19th c.

Translations

Finnish aseissa, aseistautuneena
  • aseissaequipped with weapons; in a state of military readiness
  • aseistautuneenaequipped with weapons; in a state of military readiness
  • taisteluvalminaequipped with weapons; in a state of military readiness
Greek ένοπλος
  • ένοπλος (énoplos)equipped with weapons; in a state of military readiness
Irish faoi arm
  • faoi armequipped with weapons; in a state of military readiness
Cite this entry
APA

under arms. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/under%20arms

MLA

“under arms.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/under%20arms. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “under arms,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/under%20arms.

Source: under arms on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.