staff sergeant

American  

noun

1. U.S. Air Force.  a noncommissioned officer ranking below a technical sergeant and above an airman first class.

2. U.S. Army.  a noncommissioned officer ranking below a sergeant first class and above a sergeant.

3. U.S. Marine Corps.  a noncommissioned officer ranking below a gunnery sergeant and above a sergeant.

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staff sergeant British  

noun

1. a noncommissioned officer holding a rank between sergeant and warrant officer and employed on administrative duties

2. 1. (in the Army) a noncommissioned officer who ranks above sergeant and below sergeant first class

   2. (in the Air Force) a noncommissioned officer who ranks above airman first class and below technical sergeant

   3. (in the Marine Corps) a noncommissioned officer who ranks above sergeant and below gunnery sergeant

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Etymology

Origin of staff sergeant

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

It was later confirmed the staff sergeant had survived.

From BBC

Army — where he was a staff sergeant — and sentenced to two years in prison.

From Los Angeles Times

Army staff sergeant and combat veteran from Texas.

From Salon

“A staff sergeant said, ‘Why don’t we seal the body permanently?’”

From New York Times

He earned 13 awards, including the Army Achievement Medal and Army Good Conduct Medal, and was promoted to staff sergeant in January 2008.

From Seattle Times