sergeant

sergeant — noun

1. a non-commissioned soldier who holds a middle rank in the military, responsible

1.nounB1
Definition

a non-commissioned soldier who holds a middle rank in the military, responsible for leading a small group of lower-ranking soldiers and carrying out orders from commissioned officers.

Example

Jabari was promoted to sergeant after three years of service in the infantry unit.

promoted to sergeant — rank advancement context

The drill sergeant shouted instructions at the new recruits on the training ground.

drill sergeant — specific training role

Common collocations
  • drill sergeant
  • sergeant major
  • staff sergeant
  • sergeant first class
  • platoon sergeant
Synonyms
  • corporal

    lower rank than sergeant, typically the step below before promotion

  • staff sergeant

    higher rank than sergeant in many forces

  • NCO

    broad category covering sergeants and other non-commissioned ranks

Usage Note

In most military forces, a sergeant is a non-commissioned officer (NCO) ranking above corporal and below staff sergeant. The specific duties vary by branch but typically include supervising small teams and maintaining discipline.

Common Mistakes

The sergeant is an officer in the army.
The sergeant is a non-commissioned officer in the army.
A sergeant is an NCO, not a commissioned officer like a lieutenant or captain.

2. a police officer who holds a rank above a regular officer and below a captain or

2.nounB1
Definition

a police officer who holds a rank above a regular officer and below a captain or inspector, often responsible for supervising a small team of officers or managing a station during a shift.

Example

Sergeant Harper arrived at the scene to take charge of the investigation.

Sergeant + surname — common form of address

The night-shift sergeant reviewed every officer's report before the morning handover.

Common collocations
  • police sergeant
  • desk sergeant
  • night sergeant
  • sergeant detective
  • sergeant in charge
Synonyms
  • corporal

    used in some US police departments as an equivalent rank to sergeant

Usage Note

In the UK and many Commonwealth countries, a police sergeant ranks above constable and below inspector. In the US, a police sergeant ranks above officer and below captain or lieutenant. The core job is similar — supervising other officers — but the rank titles above and below differ by country. Americans typically address a sergeant as 'Sergeant [surname]', while Britons often use just 'Sergeant' or 'Sarge' informally.

Common Mistakes

The sergeant arrested the suspect alone.
The sergeant directed her team to arrest the suspect.
A sergeant typically supervises other officers rather than working alone on patrol.

Word family

  • sergeancy
    nounC2
  • sergeantcy
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

'Sergeant' and 'corporal' both refer to supervisory police ranks, but their usage depends on the force. In many US police departments, sergeant and corporal are roughly equivalent — both oversee patrol officers — though sergeant is more widely used. 'Constable' is the lowest rank in UK police forces, below sergeant. 'Officer' is a general term for any police employee; all constables, sergeants, and inspectors are officers. For learners: if you hear 'Sergeant Jones,' the person supervises other officers — not the same as a generic 'police officer' who might work alone on patrol.

sergeant ↗corporalconstable ↗officer ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • sergeant at arms
  • rank of sergeant
  • promoted to sergeant

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Old French 'sergent' (servant), from Latin 'servientem' (serving). The meaning shifted from 'servant' to 'a servant of a knight' and then to a military rank. The police rank was adopted in the 19th century as police forces modelled their hierarchy on the military.