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Definition of sergeant noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

sergeant

noun
 
/ˈsɑːdʒənt/
 
/ˈsɑːrdʒənt/
(abbreviation Sergt, Sgt)
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  1. a member of one of the middle ranks in the army and the air force, below an officer
    • Sergeant Salter
    see also chief master sergeant, colour sergeant, company sergeant major, first sergeant, flight sergeant, gunnery sergeant, lance sergeant, master sergeant, master gunnery sergeant, senior master sergeant, staff sergeant, technical sergeant
    Extra Examples
    • He had a voice like a drill sergeant.
    • a powerful recruiting sergeant for terrorist organizations
    Topics War and conflictc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • army
    • drill
    • supply
    • …
    See full entry
  2. (in the UK) a police officer just below the rank of an inspector
    • Detective Sergeant Peter Wiles
    • Visitors to the police station should report to the duty sergeant.
    Topics Jobsc2, Law and justicec2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • police
    • detective
    • desk
    • …
    phrases
    • the rank of sergeant
    See full entry
  3. (in the US) a police officer just below the rank of a lieutenant or captain see also sargeTopics Jobsc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • police
    • detective
    • desk
    • …
    phrases
    • the rank of sergeant
    See full entry
    4. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French sergent, from Latin servient- ‘serving’, from the verb servire. Early use was as a general term meaning ‘attendant, servant’ and ‘common soldier’; the term was later applied to specific official roles.
See sergeant in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: sergeant

Nearby words

trait
noun
 
 
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