general of the army: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Military, Historical, Official
Quick answer
What does “general of the army” mean?
A military rank of the highest grade in the United States Army, equivalent to a five-star general.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A military rank of the highest grade in the United States Army, equivalent to a five-star general.
The highest achievable peacetime rank in the US Army; an officer holding the most senior command position, typically overseeing theater-level operations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
This is a purely American military rank. The equivalent UK rank is 'Field Marshal'. The term is not used in British English outside historical references to US military.
Connotations
US: Supreme command authority, wartime leadership, exceptional service. UK: Recognized as a foreign, specifically American, highest military honor.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency. Used almost exclusively in historical texts, official US military documents, and biographies of notable figures like Dwight D. Eisenhower and Douglas MacArthur.
Grammar
How to Use “general of the army” in a Sentence
[Person] was appointed General of the Army.The title General of the Army was conferred upon [Person].[Person] served with the rank of General of the Army.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in historical, political science, and military studies texts discussing US command structure or biographies of senior officers.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used in official US Department of Defense publications, military histories, and protocols regarding rank and precedence.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “general of the army”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “general of the army”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “general of the army”
- Using it as a generic term for any senior general (e.g., 'The general of the army gave a speech').
- Omitting the definite article 'the' (incorrect: 'He was promoted to General of Army').
- Confusing it with 'General of the Armies', a separate and even rarer rank.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Five stars.
It is a rank that exists but is not actively conferred. The last active officer promoted to it was in 1950. It is considered a 'wartime rank'.
'General of the Army' is a five-star rank. 'General of the Armies' is a higher, specially created rank (effectively six stars), only ever held by John J. Pershing posthumously and George Washington retroactively.
Yes. A General is a four-star rank. General of the Army is a five-star rank and is senior.
A military rank of the highest grade in the United States Army, equivalent to a five-star general.
General of the army is usually formal, military, historical, official in register.
General of the army: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdʒen.rəl əv ði ˈɑː.mi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdʒen.rəl əv ði ˈɑːr.mi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the five stars on the insignia. 'General OF THE Army' suggests command over the entire institution, not just a part of it.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE PINNACLE OF THE PYRAMID (representing the peak of a military career and hierarchy).
Practice
Quiz
What is the key distinction of the rank 'General of the Army'?