chief petty officer

noun

, U.S. Navy and Coast Guard.

1. a noncommissioned rank above petty officer first class and below senior petty officer. : CPO, C.P.O., c.p.o.

chief petty officer

noun

1. the senior naval rank for personnel without commissioned or warrant rank CPO

Word History and Origins

Origin of chief petty officer¹

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

Example Sentences

The investigation also found that several sailors, including chief petty officers, decided not to don their firefighting gear because they thought they were wearing the wrong uniform at the time, according to the investigation.

From Popular-Science

When I got assigned there, I had Master Chief Hubbard as my leading chief petty officer.

From Freakonomics

A chief petty officer is not the highest rating of the enlisted service.

From Project Gutenberg

Two were Coast Guardsmen, one a lieutenant and the other a chief petty officer.

From Project Gutenberg

"In that case I ask your pardon," replied the coastguard, whose badges proclaimed him to be a chief petty officer.

From Project Gutenberg

We had barely finished when the chief petty officer came up and examined the clews.

From Project Gutenberg

Chief Petty Officer Munro returned thanks on behalf of his comrades, and said that the reception had been quite unexpected.

From Project Gutenberg