surgeon general

noun

, plural surgeons general.

1. the chief of medical services in one of the armed forces.
2. (initial capital letters) the head of the U.S. Bureau of Public Health or, in some states, of a state health agency.

surgeon general

noun

1. (in the British, US, and certain other armies and navies) the senior officer of the medical service
2. the head of the public health service in the US

Word History and Origins

Origin of surgeon general¹

First recorded in 1770–80

Example Sentences

“If RFK has a significant influence on the next administration, that could further erode people's willingness to get up to date with recommended vaccines,” Dr. Jerome Adams, who served as Surgeon General during Trump's first administration, said at a public health conference in Minneapolis last week, as reported by The New York Times.

From Salon

RFK Jr. and other healthcare quacks, such as Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, may move into national policy-making.

From Los Angeles Times

Dozens of maternal health organizations and advocates are urging the California surgeon general to suspend the rollout of a plan aimed at reducing maternal mortality, saying that the recently announced initiative won’t effectively address the crisis and “risks exacerbating existing inequities.”

From Los Angeles Times

Asked for comment on the letter, the state surgeon general’s office issued a statement saying it “is committed to working together with partners across the state ... to improve maternal health outcomes, reduce maternal mortality, and save the lives of California moms and pregnant people.”

From Los Angeles Times

California’s surgeon general unveiled a new initiative Tuesday aimed at reducing maternal mortality, setting a goal of halving the statewide rate of deaths related to pregnancy and birth by December 2026.

From Los Angeles Times