brigadier

American  

[brig-uh-deer] / ˌbrɪg əˈdɪər /

noun

1. British Military. a rank between colonel and major general.

2. U.S. Army Informal. a brigadier general.

3. History/Historical. a noncommissioned rank in the Napoleonic armies.

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brigadier British  

/ ˌbrɪɡəˈdɪə /

noun

1. an officer of the British Army or Royal Marines who holds a rank junior to a major general but senior to a colonel, usually commanding a brigade

2. an equivalent rank in other armed forces

3. army short for brigadier general

4. history a noncommissioned rank in the armies of Napoleon I

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Other Word Forms

• brigadiership noun
• underbrigadier noun

Etymology

Origin of brigadier

1670–80; < French: officer commanding a brigade; brigade, -ier ²

Example Sentences

Retired US brigadier general Houston Cantwell, who has 400 hours of combat flight experience, said a pilot's training would likely kick in before he or she parachutes to the ground.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

Mr. Avivi, a reservist brigadier general in the Israel Defense Forces, is founder and chairman of the Israel Defense and Security Forum.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 12, 2025

As a result, Finerty was demoted to brigadier general.

From Salon • Mar. 4, 2025

“The modesty and dignity of his fiancee, who also happens to be the daughter of a retired brigadier, was grossly outraged by the police authorities,” the letter adds.

From BBC • Sep. 23, 2024

Bush learned that he had a new teammate from the army only when Groves, who had been promoted to brigadier general upon taking over the bomb project, showed up at his office on September 17.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik