Unknown Soldier

noun

1. an unidentified soldier killed in battle and buried with honors, the tomb serving as a memorial to all the unidentified dead of a nation's armed forces. The tomb of the American Unknown Soldier, commemorating a serviceman killed in World War I, was established in the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia in 1921. In 1958, the remains of personnel of World War II and the Korean War were buried alongside the tomb (now called the Tomb of the Unknowns ). In 1984, a serviceman of the Vietnam War was interred next to the others.

Unknown Soldier

noun

1. (in various countries) an unidentified soldier who has died in battle and for whom a tomb is established as a memorial to other unidentified dead of the nation's armed forces

Word History and Origins

Origin of Unknown Soldier¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Harry also knelt on one knee and layed poppies at the grave of the unknown soldier as the last post was played.

From The Daily Beast

The unknown soldier stands for us as symbol of this blind and far-reaching fury of modern conflict.

From Project Gutenberg

In this way I was taken out of the trenches on the back of an unknown soldier.

From Project Gutenberg

The body of the unknown soldier has come home, but his spirit will wander with his brothers.

From Project Gutenberg

There is a small wooden cross on which is written: "Here lies an unknown soldier."

From Project Gutenberg

Hitherto we have spoken of the unknown orphan—we must now speak of an unknown soldier.

From Project Gutenberg