sergeant

[ sahr-juhnt ]

noun

1. a noncommissioned army officer of a rank above that of corporal.
2. U.S. Air Force. any noncommissioned officer above the rank of airman first class.
3. a police officer ranking immediately below a captain or a lieutenant in the U.S. and immediately below an inspector in Britain.
4. a title of a particular office or function at the court of a monarch (often used in combination):

   sergeant of the larder; sergeant-caterer.

5. sergeant at arms.
6. Also called sergeant at law. British. (formerly) a member of a superior order of barristers.
7. sergeantfish.
8. (initial capital letter) a surface-to-surface, single-stage, U.S. ballistic missile.
9. a tenant by military service, below the rank of knight.

sergeant

/ ˈsɑːdʒənsɪ; ˈsɑːdʒənt /

noun

1. a noncommissioned officer in certain armed forces, usually ranking above a corporal
2. 1. (in Britain) a police officer ranking between constable and inspector
   2. (in the US) a police officer ranking below a captain
3. See sergeant at arms
   See sergeant at arms
4. a court or municipal officer who has ceremonial duties
5. (formerly) a tenant by military service, not of knightly rank
6. See serjeant at law
   See serjeant at law

Derived Forms

• sergeancy, noun

Other Words From

• ser·gean·cy [sahr, -j, uh, n-see], sergeant·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sergeant¹

1150–1200; Middle English sergant, serjant, serjaunt < Old French sergent < Latin servient- (stem of serviēns ), present participle of servīre. See serve, -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of sergeant¹

C12: from Old French sergent, from Latin serviēns, literally: serving, from servīre to serve

Example Sentences

Again, the prosecutor made a deal with the sergeant for probation.

From ProPublica

At least one officer who oversees the sergeant in charge of the ShotSpotter technology doesn’t think so.

From Voice of San Diego

Every year, the Sheriff’s Department charges the city $197,000 per deputy, $206,000 per detective and $255,000 per sergeant.

From Voice of San Diego

As a former village public safety officer sergeant and an outspoken voice for justice in Alaska villages, Potts said she knew they might want her help with the election, which was weeks away.

From ProPublica

The report notes that the police sergeant leading the department’s Internal Affairs investigation of the shooting sought to interview Browder.

From Voice of San Diego

“Stay in formation,” a sergeant from the ceremonial unit said over a public address system to the cops along the street.

From The Daily Beast

Prince may have pranced around like a carefree libertine onstage, but in rehearsal he was more drill sergeant than sprite.

From The Daily Beast

While the desk sergeant ran a background check, he was roughed up by another officer in the lock-up.

From The Daily Beast

As I forced my exhausted body to exercise, I yelled at my legs like a drill sergeant, demanding five more minutes or one more set.

From The Daily Beast

A squad soon arrived to take him away, and I saw the sergeant punch him in the face even though he went quietly.

From The Daily Beast

Napoleon landed at Elba at an early hour in disguise, with a sergeant's company of marines.

From Project Gutenberg

Fixing bayonets and leaving the sergeant dead in the doorway, they charged again into the mass of the enemy.

From Project Gutenberg

He turned his arm so that we could see the ripped stitching where his sergeant's stripes had been cut away.

From Project Gutenberg

When the French generals reached the Austrian end they found a sergeant of engineers actually proceeding to fire the fuse.

From Project Gutenberg

The Sergeant stared at him hard, saw that both he and his friend wore evening dress, and grew proportionately respectful.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• agent
• informer
• police officer
• private eye
• private investigator
• prosecutor
• reporter
• sleuth
• spy