noun
Common
admiral
AD-muh-ruhl
Admiral (noun) means a senior naval officer who commands a fleet or squadron. Example: “The admiral inspected the ships lined up in the harbour.”
noun
1
A senior naval officer who commands a fleet or squadron.
"The admiral inspected the ships lined up in the harbour."
"Crew members saluted as the admiral stepped aboard the flagship."
"The admiral gave the order to set sail at dawn."
2
A high naval rank, roughly equivalent to a general in the army.
"He hoped to reach the rank of admiral before he retired."
"Becoming an admiral takes many years of experience and careful promotion."
"She was promoted to rear admiral after twenty years of service."
How to use admiral
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA top-ranking naval commander, or the rank itself.
Common pairings
rear admiral
vice admiral
fleet admiral
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Word forms
- Plural
- admirals
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The _____ inspected the ships lined up in the harbour.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin admiralis, itself borrowed and reshaped from Arabic amir ("commander"). It was later linked by folk etymology to Latin admirari ("to admire"), which is why it looks like an English word but isn't related in origin.
Synonyms
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flag officer
fleet commander
Rhymes for admiral
See all rhymes for admiral →Frequently asked questions
What does “admiral” mean?
The word “admiral” means a senior naval officer who commands a fleet or squadron. In plain terms, a top-ranking naval commander, or the rank itself.
How do you pronounce “admiral”?
“Admiral” is pronounced AD-muh-ruhl (/ˈædməɹəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “admiral” in a sentence?
Here is “admiral” used in a sentence: “The admiral gave the order to set sail at dawn.”
What part of speech is “admiral”?
“Admiral” is a noun.
Where does the word “admiral” come from?
The word “admiral” comes from Medieval Latin.
Is “admiral” a common word?
“Admiral” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “admiral” have?
“Admiral” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a senior naval officer who commands a fleet or squadron.
What is the difference between an admiral and a general?
An admiral is a senior naval officer who commands a fleet or squadron, while a general holds the roughly equivalent high rank in the army. The two ranks sit at similar levels in their services' hierarchies. Which title applies depends on the branch: navies have admirals, armies have generals.
What is the difference between an admiral and a captain?
In the navy, a captain typically commands a single ship, while an admiral is a more senior officer who commands a fleet or squadron of ships. Admiral outranks captain in naval hierarchies. A captain may report to an admiral during fleet operations.
Is admiral capitalized?
Capitalize admiral when it is used as a title directly before a person's name or as a direct form of address, as in "Yes, Admiral." Use lowercase when it is an ordinary noun, as in "she was promoted to admiral" or "the admiral addressed the fleet." This follows the standard rule for military ranks and titles.
What ranks come above and below admiral?
In many navies, admiral sits above vice admiral, which in turn sits above rear admiral. Some navies also have a rank above admiral, such as fleet admiral or admiral of the fleet, often reserved for wartime or exceptional service. Exact titles and insignia vary between countries.
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