first sergeant

noun

, U.S. Army.

1. the senior noncommissioned officer of a company, squadron, etc., responsible for personnel and administration.

Word History and Origins

Origin of first sergeant¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Officials said he “took immense pride” in being the first sergeant on the Sheriff’s Overdose Response Task Force.

From Los Angeles Times

The first sergeant in charge of Mr. Andes’ platoon, she said, was having trouble, too.

From New York Times

She also befriended Hillary, a former reporter whose marriage to a first sergeant meant that the couples could not socialize as a group — the Army still maintains many rank-based rules and traditions.

From Los Angeles Times

Al Pacino played the blind man; Mr. Goldman told The Times that he borrowed aspects of his father, one of his brothers and his Army first sergeant in writing the part.

From New York Times

Her first sergeant told Diaz, who is a Black Puerto Rican woman, that he didn’t believe saying the n-word was “a big deal.”

From Washington Post