master corporal: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Military
Quick answer
What does “master corporal” mean?
A non-commissioned officer rank in the Canadian Armed Forces and some other Commonwealth militaries, above corporal and below sergeant.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A non-commissioned officer rank in the Canadian Armed Forces and some other Commonwealth militaries, above corporal and below sergeant.
A specific rank within a military hierarchy, often serving as a section second-in-command or a team leader, denoting a senior corporal with increased responsibility.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The rank is standard in the Canadian Armed Forces. It is not used in the British Army (equivalent seniority might be a lance-sergeant or 'full screw' corporal). The U.S. military has no direct equivalent; a 'corporal' is the rank, with seniority denoted by time in service, not a separate rank title.
Connotations
In Canada, it denotes professional military rank. In UK/US contexts, the term would be recognized primarily by those familiar with Commonwealth military structures.
Frequency
Common in Canadian military/defence contexts; extremely rare elsewhere.
Grammar
How to Use “master corporal” in a Sentence
[be] appointed/promoted to Master CorporalMaster Corporal [surname]serve as a Master CorporalVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “master corporal” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He hopes to master corporal-level skills this year.
American English
- She aims to master corporal duties before her promotion board.
adjective
British English
- The master-corporal course is intensive.
- He attended the master corporal training.
American English
- The master corporal position requires leadership.
- She is in a master corporal role.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in military history or political science discussing force structures.
Everyday
Virtually never used outside of military families or communities.
Technical
Specific to military rank structures and personnel management.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “master corporal”
- Using it as a generic term for any senior corporal outside the Canadian/Commonwealth context.
- Capitalizing incorrectly (should be 'Master Corporal' when referring to the rank title).
- Confusing it with 'Corporal Major' (which is not a rank).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Master Corporal is a rank above Corporal but below Sergeant.
The common abbreviation is MCpl.
Yes, as the senior rank, a Master Corporal can give lawful commands to a Corporal and other junior ranks.
No. The British Army uses the ranks of Lance Corporal, Corporal, and then Sergeant. The Canadian Master Corporal rank was created to provide a career progression point equivalent to the former 'Lance Sergeant' appointment.
A non-commissioned officer rank in the Canadian Armed Forces and some other Commonwealth militaries, above corporal and below sergeant.
Master corporal is usually formal, military in register.
Master corporal: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɑːstə ˈkɔːp(ə)rəl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmæstər ˈkɔːrp(ə)rəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No specific idioms; the term is a formal title.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: MASTER of corporal duties. A corporal who has mastered the role and now trains others.
Conceptual Metaphor
HIERARCHY IS A LADDER: A higher rung on the non-commissioned officer ladder.
Practice
Quiz
In which country's military is 'Master Corporal' a standard rank?