field marshal

American  

noun

1. an officer of the highest military rank in the British and certain other armies, and of the second highest rank in the French army.

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field marshal British  

noun

1. an officer holding the highest rank in the British and certain other armies

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Etymology

Origin of field marshal

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

He came back to Peru four years later, received an unprecedented promotion to field marshal, and explored the country’s wild interior, searching for navigable rivers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

The field marshal, acting on CIA intelligence, handed over the alleged mastermind behind the 2021 Kabul airport bombing when Americans were evacuating from Afghanistan.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

"Field marshals don't retire. They may leave a post, but they remain field marshal for life," he said.

From Barron's • Nov. 14, 2025

Despite being specifically forbidden to do so, on January 31, 1943, German field marshal Friedrich Paulus surrendered what was left of his Sixth Army.

From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022

“This is not peace,” declared French field marshal Ferdinand Foch.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman