sergeant

[ sahr-juhnt ]

/ ˈsɑr dʒənt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR sergeant ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a noncommissioned army officer of a rank above that of corporal.

U.S. Air Force. any noncommissioned officer above the rank of airman first class.

a police officer ranking immediately below a captain or a lieutenant in the U.S. and immediately below an inspector in Britain.

a title of a particular office or function at the court of a monarch (often used in combination): sergeant of the larder; sergeant-caterer.

sergeant at arms.

Also called sergeant at law .British. (formerly) a member of a superior order of barristers.

sergeantfish.

(initial capital letter) a surface-to-surface, single-stage, U.S. ballistic missile.

a tenant by military service, below the rank of knight.

QUIZZES

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Do you remember all the words from last week, September 21–27, 2020? Then this quiz should be butyraceous.

Question 1 of 7

What does “yare” mean?

quick; agile; lively.

expressive of or characterized by sorrow.

having or characterized by persistent or earnest desire.

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Also especially British, ser·jeant (for defs. 1-7, 9) .

Origin of sergeant

1150–1200; Middle English sergant, serjant, serjaunt<Old French sergent<Latin servient- (stem of serviēns), present participle of servīre.See serve, -ent

OTHER WORDS FROM sergeant

ser·gean·cy

[sahr-juhn-see], /ˈsɑr dʒən si/, ser·geant·ship, noun

Words nearby sergeant

serenity, Sereth, Serevent, serf, serge, sergeant, sergeant at arms, sergeant at law, sergeant baker, sergeant first class, sergeantfish

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for sergeant

Every year, the Sheriff’s Department charges the city $197,000 per deputy, $206,000 per detective and $255,000 per sergeant.
Morning Report: Oceanside Reboots Top Cop Search|Voice of San Diego|September 14, 2020|Voice of San Diego
As a former village public safety officer sergeant and an outspoken voice for justice in Alaska villages, Potts said she knew they might want her help with the election, which was weeks away.
The Woman Propositioned by Alaska’s Former Lieutenant Governor Tells Her Story for the First Time|by Kyle Hopkins and Michelle Theriault Boots, Anchorage Daily News|September 10, 2020|ProPublica
The report notes that the police sergeant leading the department’s Internal Affairs investigation of the shooting sought to interview Browder.
Police Review Board Was Denied Docs, Interviews in 2015 Shooting Review|Sara Libby|July 22, 2020|Voice of San Diego
“Stay in formation,” a sergeant from the ceremonial unit said over a public address system to the cops along the street.
Funeral Protest Is Too Much for NYPD Union Boss|Michael Daly|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST

A squad soon arrived to take him away, and I saw the sergeant punch him in the face even though he went quietly.
A Million Ways to Die in Prison|Daniel Genis|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One sergeant is quoted saying that Garner “did not appear to be in great distress.”
The Gentle Giant Cut Down by Cops|Michael Daly|July 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The contemporary Luz James, a military brat, lives with her sergeant mother.
This Week’s Hot Reads: July 7, 2014|Samantha Levine|July 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A sergeant from the Directorate General of Prisons, Mina Olmedo, was shot and killed, and eleven other guards were badly injured.
Pablo Escobar’s Private Prison Is Now Run by Monks for Senior Citizens|Jeff Campagna|June 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Even our sergeant, who helped during the night, took a comrade off in the morning and disappeared.
My War Experiences in Two Continents|Sarah Macnaughtan
A sergeant came out with a little packet which he handed to Martin.
One Man's Initiation--1917|John Dos Passos
Rawdon and Lowndes had hardly got away on the train when Sergeant Stowell and his party came searching.
Lanier of the Cavalry|Charles King
I have received five wounds in the service and was made corporal and sergeant on the field of battle.
Military Career of Napoleon the Great|Montgomery B. Gibbs
Dick was at the head of the column with Colonel Winchester and the sergeant.
The Rock of Chickamauga|Joseph A. Altsheler

British Dictionary definitions for sergeant

sergeant

/ (ˈsɑːdʒənt) /

noun

a noncommissioned officer in certain armed forces, usually ranking above a corporal

(in Britain) a police officer ranking between constable and inspector
(in the US) a police officer ranking below a captain

See sergeant at arms

a court or municipal officer who has ceremonial duties

(formerly) a tenant by military service, not of knightly rank

See serjeant at law

Also: serjeant

Derived forms of sergeant

sergeancy (ˈsɑːdʒənsɪ) or sergeantship, noun

Word Origin for sergeant

C12: from Old French sergent, from Latin serviēns, literally: serving, from servīre to serve

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

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sergeant

noun

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Origin of sergeant

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Example sentences from the Web for sergeant

British Dictionary definitions for sergeant

noun

Derived forms of sergeant

Word Origin for sergeant

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

sergeant

noun

QUIZZES

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Origin of sergeant

OTHER WORDS FROM sergeant

Words nearby sergeant

Words related to sergeant

Example sentences from the Web for sergeant

British Dictionary definitions for sergeant

noun

Derived forms of sergeant

Word Origin for sergeant