air vice-marshal: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Military
Quick answer
What does “air vice-marshal” mean?
A senior officer rank in the British Royal Air Force, directly below air marshal and above air commodore.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A senior officer rank in the British Royal Air Force, directly below air marshal and above air commodore.
A specific high-ranking military title, typically associated with command of large groups, operational formations, or senior staff appointments within an air force. In some Commonwealth nations, the rank is also used.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The rank 'Air Vice-Marshal' is used in the UK and Commonwealth air forces. The equivalent US Air Force rank is 'Major General' (two-star general). The term is not used in American English outside of historical or specific references to foreign militaries.
Connotations
In the UK, it conveys seniority, tradition, and specific authority within the RAF structure. In the US, it is recognized as a foreign military title.
Frequency
Common in UK military/defence contexts; extremely rare in general US English.
Grammar
How to Use “air vice-marshal” in a Sentence
Air Vice-Marshal [Surname]the Air Vice-MarshalAir Vice-Marshal of the Royal Air ForceVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “air vice-marshal” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was air vice-marshalled in 2015.
- The ceremony air vice-marshalled the senior officers.
American English
- [Not used as a verb in American English]
adverb
British English
- [Not used as an adverb]
American English
- [Not used as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- The Air Vice-Marshal position became vacant.
- She held an air vice-marshal rank.
American English
- [Rarely, if ever, used adjectivally in American English]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in military history, political science, or defence studies contexts.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation outside of specific news reports about the RAF.
Technical
Standard term in military lexicons, protocol documents, and organisational charts of relevant air forces.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “air vice-marshal”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “air vice-marshal”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “air vice-marshal”
- Misspelling as 'air-vice marshal' or 'air vice marshal' (the hyphens are standard).
- Using lowercase ('air vice-marshal') when it is part of a title before a name.
- Confusing with 'Air Marshal' (a higher rank).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a senior two-star air officer rank, equivalent to a Rear Admiral in the Royal Navy or a Major General in the British Army/US Armed Forces.
Formally as 'Air Vice-Marshal [Surname]' or simply 'Sir/Ma'am'.
Yes, it is standard to hyphenate as 'air-vice-marshal', especially when used as a compound noun before a name (Air Vice-Marshal).
Absolutely. The Royal Air Force has appointed women to the rank of Air Vice-Marshal.
A senior officer rank in the British Royal Air Force, directly below air marshal and above air commodore.
Air vice-marshal is usually formal, military in register.
Air vice-marshal: in British English it is pronounced /ˌeə ˌvaɪs ˈmɑː.ʃəl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌer ˌvaɪs ˈmɑːr.ʃəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this specific rank]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'Vice' (second-in-command) to a higher 'Air Marshal', flying in the royal 'Air' force.
Conceptual Metaphor
HIERARCHY IS A LADDER (a specific high rung on the military ladder).
Practice
Quiz
What is the closest US Air Force equivalent to a British Air Vice-Marshal?