sergeant
Sergeant (noun) means a military rank above corporal and below officer ranks, or an equivalent senior rank in the police. Example: “The sergeant barked orders at the new recruits.”
How to use sergeant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA rank held by senior non-commissioned officers in the military or police.
Pronounced "SAR-jent" despite the "er" spelling — an old, irregular sound shift, similar to "clerk."
Word forms
sergeants plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ barked orders at the new recruits.
Etymology
From Old French sergent, from Latin serviēns, "serving" — ultimately from the same root as "servant."
Synonyms
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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."