first sergeant

American  

noun

U.S. Army.

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

---

Etymology

Origin of first sergeant

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

When I asked the first sergeant why he thought that wasn’t a good idea, he shrugged.

From Slate • Jul. 17, 2024

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 • Jul. 26, 2023

Driver’s first sergeant told him that he was too injured for the deployment.

From The New Yorker • Oct. 21, 2019

“I tried to get out of going,” recalled Workman, who has since been promoted to first sergeant.

From Washington Post • Aug. 29, 2019

After my first sergeant left the room, I lay back down and pulled the covers back over myself.

From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore