general of the armies: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Historical/Legal Term)Formal, Historical, Legal
Quick answer
What does “general of the armies” mean?
The highest possible military rank in the United States Army, superior to General of the Army (five-star general), awarded only twice in history.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The highest possible military rank in the United States Army, superior to General of the Army (five-star general), awarded only twice in history.
A title of supreme military command, often used to denote an exceptional, once-in-a-generation leader whose authority transcends the normal chain of command.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The rank is purely American. The UK has no equivalent rank, though "Field Marshal" is the highest rank in the British Army.
Connotations
US: Supreme authority, unique historical honor, legislative creation. UK: Not applicable; the concept is foreign to the British rank structure.
Frequency
Extremely rare in American English, used only in historical/legal contexts. Never used in British English.
Grammar
How to Use “general of the armies” in a Sentence
to be appointed (as) General of the Armiesto hold the rank of General of the Armiesto be promoted to General of the ArmiesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “general of the armies” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The biography explored the legacy of the American General of the Armies.
- The rank of General of the Armies has no counterpart in our forces.
American English
- John J. Pershing is the most famous General of the Armies.
- The 1976 law posthumously awarded the rank of General of the Armies to George Washington.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical texts, military history papers, and studies of U.S. military law.
Everyday
Almost never used. Might appear in trivia or historical documentaries.
Technical
Used in precise discussions of U.S. military rank structure, legal statutes (e.g., Public Law 94-479), and heraldry.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “general of the armies”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “general of the armies”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “general of the armies”
- Using it as a plural (e.g., 'the generals of the armies').
- Confusing it with 'General of the Army' (the five-star rank).
- Using it generically to mean 'a general in charge of armies'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Only two people: John J. Pershing (awarded in 1919) and George Washington (posthumously awarded in 1976).
It is often described informally as a 'six-star rank' because it is senior to the five-star General of the Army. However, no official six-star insignia was ever adopted.
Yes, but only through a specific act of the United States Congress, making it extraordinarily rare.
A Field Marshal is the highest rank in the British army, but multiple officers can hold it concurrently. General of the Armies is a unique American rank intended for a single individual, placing them above all others permanently.
The highest possible military rank in the United States Army, superior to General of the Army (five-star general), awarded only twice in history.
General of the armies is usually formal, historical, legal in register.
General of the armies: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdʒɛn(ə)rəl əv ði ˈɑːmiz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdʒɛn(ə)rəl əv ði ˈɑːrmiz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"General of the ARMIES" has an 'S' for 'Supreme' or 'Special'—it's above all other armies and generals.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE PINNACLE OF THE PYRAMID; THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY FIGURE; A POSITION BEYOND RANK.
Practice
Quiz
What is the key distinction between 'General of the Army' and 'General of the Armies'?