aide-de-camp
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of aide-de-camp
1660–70; < French: literally, camp helper; see aid, de, camp 1
Explanation
An aide-de-camp is a military officer who assists another officer with more seniority. An aide-de-camp is a military assistant. Many English words come from the military, and many others come from French. This word comes from both, as it's a French term for a military assistant. Just like assistants in other fields, the aide-de-camp will provide the senior officer with whatever is needed. This term also gets a fair amount of work as a general term for an assistant to a powerful person in any organization. Any supervisor or leader may have an aide-de-camp who helps them out.
Vocabulary lists containing aide-de-camp
All the Light We Cannot See
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
French Terms Used in English
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Anna Karenina
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
That’s where he spotted Manafort and anointed him aide de camp.
From Slate • Apr. 28, 2016
The rooms, she said, will also display artifacts, including the sword of Tench Tilghman - a native Marylander who was an aide de camp to Washington - and early furnishings of the Old Senate Chamber.
From Washington Times • Jul. 14, 2014
Weiner held a news conference Tuesday, in which he appeared shoulder to shoulder with his wife, Huma Abedin, the longtime Hillary Clinton aide de camp.
From Washington Post • Jul. 24, 2013
"As an example, general officers in command often have an aide de camp."
From Reuters • Dec. 7, 2012
Grenadier Guards, joined my staff as aide de camp.
From New York Times Current History: The European War, Vol 2, No. 1, April, 1915 April-September, 1915 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
