sergeant major
Americannoun
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U.S. Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps. a noncommissioned officer serving as chief administrative assistant in a unit headquarters.
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U.S. Marine Corps. a noncommissioned officer ranking above a first sergeant.
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a small damselfish, Abudefduf saxatilis, inhabiting warm Atlantic waters, having vertical black stripes on each side.
noun
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a noncommissioned officer of the highest rank or having specific administrative tasks in branches of the armed forces of various countries
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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.
The beast and the retired command sergeant major know each other better than they know anyone else, and they don’t particularly need anyone else.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
He did reach the rank of command sergeant major near the end of his service, but he officially retired one rank below as a master sergeant.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2024
He spent 24 years in the Army National Guard, rising to the unlisted rank of sergeant major.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2024
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
He did not expect the sergeant major for another hour.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
