noun
Common
Marshal
MAH-shuhl
Marshal (noun) means a top-ranking military officer in certain countries, roughly equivalent to a five-star general. Example: “He was promoted to field marshal after the campaign.”
noun
1
A top-ranking military officer in certain countries, roughly equivalent to a five-star general.
"He was promoted to field marshal after the campaign."
2
A law enforcement officer, especially a federal one, or an official who oversees a public event.
"The fire marshal inspected the building before the concert."
"U.S. marshals escorted the witness into the courthouse."
verb
1
To organize people, resources, or arguments into proper order, especially in preparation for something.
"She spent the morning marshaling her evidence before the meeting."
"Troops were marshaled at the border before the parade."
How to use Marshal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAs a noun, a high official (military or law-enforcement); as a verb, to gather and organize things carefully.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "martial" (relating to war) — they sound alike but "marshal" is the person/role, "martial" is the adjective.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
marshal your thoughts
field marshal
fire marshal
US marshal
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Word forms
- Plural
- marshals
- Third person singular
- marshals
- Past tense
- marshaled, marshalled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He was promoted to field _____ after the campaign.
Etymology
From Old French mareschal, originally meaning someone who looked after horses in a noble household — the job grew into overseeing armies and, eventually, ceremonies and law enforcement.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “Marshal” mean?
The word “Marshal” means a top-ranking military officer in certain countries, roughly equivalent to a five-star general. In plain terms, as a noun, a high official (military or law-enforcement); as a verb, to gather and organize things carefully.
How do you pronounce “Marshal”?
“Marshal” is pronounced MAH-shuhl (/ˈmɑː(ɹ)ʃəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “Marshal” in a sentence?
Here is “Marshal” used in a sentence: “He was promoted to field marshal after the campaign.”
What is the opposite of “Marshal”?
The opposite of “Marshal” — its antonyms — are unmarshal, decode, deserialize and unserialize.
What part of speech is “Marshal”?
Depending on how it is used, “Marshal” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “Marshal” come from?
The word “Marshal” comes from Old French. From Old French mareschal, originally meaning someone who looked after horses in a noble household — the job grew into overseeing armies and, eventually, ceremonies and law enforcement.
Is “Marshal” a common word?
“Marshal” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Marshal” have?
“Marshal” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a top-ranking military officer in certain countries, roughly equivalent to a five-star general.
What is the difference between marshal and martial?
Marshal is a noun for a high-ranking officer or official and a verb meaning to organize people or resources; martial means relating to war or the military, as in 'martial arts.' They sound alike but are never interchangeable.
Is marshal spelled with one L or two?
The verb and the ranks and officials, such as a field marshal or a fire marshal, are spelled with one L: marshal. The two-L spelling Marshall is normally a surname or place name.
What is the difference between a marshal and a general?
A marshal, or field marshal, is the highest military rank in many countries and sits above a general. A general is a senior commander but ranks below marshal wherever that top rank exists.
How do you spell the past tense of the verb marshal?
British English usually doubles the L, giving 'marshalled' and 'marshalling,' while American English commonly uses one L, giving 'marshaled' and 'marshaling.' Both are correct within their own varieties.
