# BLA

CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bla
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

Stands for British Land Army. A group of women who worked on farms in the UK during World War I and World War II to help produce food while men were away fighting.

For teachers: Abbreviation for British Land Army. A civilian organisation of women, popularly known as Land Girls, established during the World Wars to replace male agricultural workers who had been conscripted into the military.

## Examples

- My grandmother joined the BLA during the second war.
- The BLA played a critical role in maintaining domestic food security when imports were blocked by enemy ships.
- Historians often cite the BLA as a pivotal movement that challenged traditional gender roles in rural Britain, proving that women could perform heavy manual labour previously reserved for men.

## Usage notes

- Usually used with the definite article ('the BLA').

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.