sergeant

[ sahr-juhnt ]

/ ˈsɑr dʒənt /

Save This Word!

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.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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, serf, serfdom, 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. 2023

How to use sergeant in a sentence

Again, the prosecutor made a deal with the sergeant for probation.
How Criminal Cops Often Avoid Jail|by Andrew Ford, Asbury Park Press|September 23, 2020|ProPublica
At least one officer who oversees the sergeant in charge of the ShotSpotter technology doesn’t think so.
ShotSpotter Sensors Send SDPD Officers to False Alarms More Often Than Advertised|Kara Grant|September 22, 2020|Voice of San Diego
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
Prince may have pranced around like a carefree libertine onstage, but in rehearsal he was more drill sergeant than sprite.
Speed Read: The Juiciest Bits From the History of ‘Purple Rain’|Jennie Yabroff|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
While the desk sergeant ran a background check, he was roughed up by another officer in the lock-up.
What Would Happen if I Got in White Cop’s Face?|Goldie Taylor|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As I forced my exhausted body to exercise, I yelled at my legs like a drill sergeant, demanding five more minutes or one more set.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder|Carrie Arnold|December 20, 2014|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
Napoleon landed at Elba at an early hour in disguise, with a sergeant's company of marines.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Fixing bayonets and leaving the sergeant dead in the doorway, they charged again into the mass of the enemy.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
He turned his arm so that we could see the ripped stitching where his sergeant's stripes had been cut away.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
When the French generals reached the Austrian end they found a sergeant of engineers actually proceeding to fire the fuse.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
The Sergeant stared at him hard, saw that both he and his friend wore evening dress, and grew proportionately respectful.
Dope|Sax Rohmer

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

sergeant

Origin of sergeant

OTHER WORDS FROM sergeant

Words nearby sergeant

Words related to sergeant

How to use sergeant in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sergeant

Derived forms of sergeant

Word Origin for sergeant