surgeon general
- the chief of medical services in one of the armed forces.
- (initial capital letters) the head of the U.S. Bureau of Public Health or, in some states, of a state health agency.
Origin of surgeon general
First recorded in 1770–80
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for surgeon general
Contemporary Examples
The Governor was finishing his reply to the short speech of the Surgeon-General.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the ShowRobert W. Chambers
February 20, 2014
Historical Examples
The people that were ill were put under the care of Mr. Zimers, the Surgeon-General.
Voyage of H.M.S. PandoraEdward Edwards
Their courage and devotion to duty were mentioned in the Surgeon-General's report.
The University of MichiganWilfred Shaw
He wore his operating-coat over his surgeon-general's uniform.
Royal HighnessThomas Mann
After fighting their way through these obstacles, the committee met with a misfortune in the death of Surgeon-General Lawson.
Campfire and BattlefieldRossiter Johnson
It was enlivened, however, by a communication from the Surgeon-General, proposing to send surgeons to vaccinate all the members.
A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States CapitalJohn Beauchamp Jones
surgeon general
- (in the British, US, and certain other armies and navies) the senior officer of the medical service
- the head of the public health service in the US
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Surgeon General
- The chief general officer in the medical departments of the US Army, Navy, or Air Force.
- The chief medical officer in the US Public Health Service or in a state public health service.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.