staff sergeant

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noun

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

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

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

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Origin of staff sergeant

First recorded in 1805–15

Words nearby staff sergeant

Stafford, Staffordshire, Staffordshire bull terrier, staffrider, Staffs, staff sergeant, staff sergeant major, stag, stag beetle, stage, stage brace

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use staff sergeant in a sentence

On the morning of March 26, Sergiy Barnich, a 47-year-old staff sergeant in Ukraine’s armed forces, came out of his trench and began to look for enemy mines in the brush.
'They Want the West to Be Frightened.' Ukraine's President on Why Russia Sent Troops to the Border|Simon Shuster / Shumy, Ukraine|April 12, 2021|Time
They took cover inside a print works to the north east of Paris, where they held a member of staff as a hostage.
France Kills Charlie Hebdo Murderers|Nico Hines|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Although the blood-spattered offices will be off-limits, staff have vowed to continue producing the magazine.
France Mourns—and Hunts|Nico Hines, Christopher Dickey|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
You get these high-profile people that go into prison, and the staff abuse their authority.
How a ‘Real Housewife’ Survives Prison: ‘I Don’t See [Teresa Giudice] Having a Cakewalk Here’|Michael Howard|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST

“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
With each division, in addition to the divisional staff, there were officers detached from the headquarters staff.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
As Felipe approached, the old man's face beamed with pleasure, and he came forward totteringly, leaning on a staff in each hand.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
By the end of the campaign of 1796 he had proved that he was as great a chief of the staff as Bonaparte was a great commander.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
The commander-in-chief still kept him attached to the headquarter staff, and constantly employed him on special service.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
So it was all arranged, and Lawrence went to see his uncle and tell him of his new position on Blair's staff.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn

British Dictionary definitions for staff sergeant

staff sergeant

noun military

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

(in the Army) a noncommissioned officer who ranks above sergeant and below sergeant first class
(in the Air Force) a noncommissioned officer who ranks above airman first class and below technical sergeant
(in the Marine Corps) a noncommissioned officer who ranks above sergeant and below gunnery sergeant

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