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

"It shows that America is seriously coming to the table," said Assaf Orion, a retired Israeli brigadier general.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

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

Army brigadier general who held senior roles in the Defense and State Departments under previous administrations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 15, 2026

As a result, Finerty was demoted to brigadier general.

From Salon • Mar. 4, 2025

I said nothing to the brigadier, for I knew the decision had not been his.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela