noun
Common
sergeant
SAH-juhnt
Sergeant (noun) means a military rank above corporal and below officer ranks, or an equivalent senior rank in the police. Example: “The sergeant at the front desk took down my details and gave me a form.”
noun
1
A military rank above corporal and below officer ranks, or an equivalent senior rank in the police.
"The sergeant at the front desk took down my details and gave me a form."
"“Yes, there are two distinct sets of footprints, both wearing rubber shoes—one I think ordinary plimsolls, the other goloshes,” replied the sergeant."
— Lawrence R. Bourne (1928)
"The sergeant barked orders at the new recruits."
"She was promoted to police sergeant after five years on the force."
How to use sergeant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA rank held by senior non-commissioned officers in the military or police.
UK vs US
Pronounced "SAR-jent" despite the "er" spelling — an old, irregular sound shift, similar to "clerk."
Common pairings
drill sergeant
sergeant major
staff sergeant
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Word forms
- Plural
- sergeants
Fill the gap
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The _____ at the front desk took down my details and gave me a form.
Etymology
From Old French sergent, from Latin serviēns, "serving" — ultimately from the same root as "servant."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for sergeant
See all rhymes for sergeant →Frequently asked questions
What does “sergeant” mean?
The word “sergeant” means a military rank above corporal and below officer ranks, or an equivalent senior rank in the police. In plain terms, a rank held by senior non-commissioned officers in the military or police.
How do you pronounce “sergeant”?
“Sergeant” is pronounced SAH-juhnt (/ˈsɑɹ.d͡ʒənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “sergeant” in a sentence?
Here is “sergeant” used in a sentence: “The sergeant barked orders at the new recruits.”
What part of speech is “sergeant”?
“Sergeant” is a noun.
Where does the word “sergeant” come from?
The word “sergeant” comes from Latin. From Old French sergent, from Latin serviēns, "serving" — ultimately from the same root as "servant.".
Is “sergeant” a common word?
“Sergeant” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between a "sergeant" and a "corporal"?
A sergeant ranks directly above a corporal, so a sergeant holds more authority and typically supervises corporals and junior soldiers. Both are non-commissioned ranks, meaning they sit below commissioned officers.
What is the difference between a "sergeant" and a "lieutenant"?
A lieutenant is a commissioned officer and outranks a sergeant, who is a senior non-commissioned rank. In practice an experienced sergeant often advises and supports a newly commissioned lieutenant.
How do you spell "sergeant" correctly?
It is spelled s-e-r-g-e-a-n-t, even though the first syllable sounds like "sar." Common misspellings include "sargeant," "sargent," and "sergent."
