sergeant major
Americannoun
-
U.S. Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps. a noncommissioned officer serving as chief administrative assistant in a unit headquarters.
-
U.S. Marine Corps. a noncommissioned officer ranking above a first sergeant.
-
a small damselfish, Abudefduf saxatilis, inhabiting warm Atlantic waters, having vertical black stripes on each side.
noun
-
a noncommissioned officer of the highest rank or having specific administrative tasks in branches of the armed forces of various countries
-
a large damselfish, Abudefduf saxatilis, having a bluish-grey body marked with black stripes
Etymology
Origin of sergeant major
First recorded in 1565–75
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota also intervened on his behalf along with the service’s top noncommissioned officer, the sergeant major of the Army.
From Seattle Times ● May 16, 2024
During his "reception", Artem Dyblenko, a 40-year-old sergeant major at the 36th Marine Brigade, overheard the guards talking about playing football with the captives.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2023
“What matters most is making the very best Marines,” said Troy E. Black, sergeant major of the Marine Corps.
From Washington Times ● May 3, 2023
Soon after, he was promoted ahead of 500 other enlisted men to sergeant major, the highest Army rank for a noncommissioned officer.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 19, 2023
“Mademoiselle, you made me drop my newspaper. I am just a lowly sergeant major here to ask a question. One simple question and then I will leave.”
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
