warrant officer

American  

noun

1. (in the U.S. Armed Forces) an officer of one of four grades ranking above enlisted personnel and below commissioned officers.

2. a similar officer in other countries.

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warrant officer British  

noun

1. an officer in certain armed services who holds a rank between those of commissioned and noncommissioned officers. In the British army, the rank has two classes See regimental sergeant major company sergeant major

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Etymology

Origin of warrant officer

First recorded in 1685–95

Compare meaning

How does warrant-officer compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• warrant officer vs. commissioned officer

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

warrant officer

Navy warrant officer who served for decades, including in war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Austins told the local news station, adding that in his final days he struggled with PTSD.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

Mr Lee, a former warrant officer, served in the Army for more than 30 years, including in the 15/19 Royal King's Hussars in the former West Germany.

From BBC ● Apr. 14, 2024

In 2019, I retired as a chief warrant officer in the Army Signal Corps.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 10, 2023

"Leopard tanks are third-generation tanks. Their mobility on diverse terrain is better compared to Russian tanks," said chief warrant officer Lukasz Setny, a senior Leopard instructor.

From Reuters ● Jan. 31, 2023

The prosecutor replied that they were, but that the case was over, court was no longer in session, and the only authority in the room was that of the warrant officer.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

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