sergeant

especially British, ser·jeant

[sahr-juhnt]

noun

1. a noncommissioned army officer of a rank above that of corporal.

2. U.S. Air Force.,  any noncommissioned officer above the rank of airman first class.

3. a police officer ranking immediately below a captain or a lieutenant in the U.S. and immediately below an inspector in Britain.

4. a title of a particular office or function at the court of a monarch (often used in combination).

   sergeant of the larder; sergeant-caterer.

5. sergeant at arms.

6. Also called sergeant at law. British.,  (formerly) a member of a superior order of barristers.

7. sergeantfish.

8. (initial capital letter),  a surface-to-surface, single-stage, U.S. ballistic missile.

9. a tenant by military service, below the rank of knight.

sergeant

/ ˈsɑːdʒənsɪ, ˈsɑːdʒənt /

noun

1. a noncommissioned officer in certain armed forces, usually ranking above a corporal

2. 1. (in Britain) a police officer ranking between constable and inspector

   2. (in the US) a police officer ranking below a captain

3. See sergeant at arms

4. a court or municipal officer who has ceremonial duties

5. (formerly) a tenant by military service, not of knightly rank

6. See serjeant at law

Other Word Forms

• sergeancy noun
• sergeantship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sergeant¹

1150–1200; Middle English sergant, serjant, serjaunt < Old French sergent < Latin servient- (stem of serviēns ), present participle of servīre. See serve, -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of sergeant¹

C12: from Old French sergent, from Latin serviēns, literally: serving, from servīre to _serve

Example Sentences

The dress code was updated soon thereafter by Martha Pope, the first female sergeant at arms.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Wendy, 81, said she then received another call supposedly from a detective sergeant, claiming police were investigating fraudulent activity within their local bank.

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Mr Bridges, a retired RAF sergeant, says despite putting "the heating up fairly high to keep it nice and warm", his bill has fallen to between £40 and £60 each month.

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The sergeant said the department did not start reporting certain spousal abuse cases to the state until after Ramirez was terminated in early February 2024.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Both are senior to police constables, sergeants and inspectors and below the rank of commander and assistant and deputy commissioners.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• agent 
• informer 
• police officer 
• private eye 
• private investigator 
• prosecutor 
• reporter 
• sleuth 
• spy