sergeant: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal; official, legal, military, police
Quick answer
What does “sergeant” mean?
A non-commissioned officer in an army or air force, ranking above a corporal and below a warrant officer.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A non-commissioned officer in an army or air force, ranking above a corporal and below a warrant officer.
A police officer ranking below an inspector (UK) or lieutenant (US), or a title for certain officials, such as a 'sergeant-at-arms' in a legislative body.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK: Used in army and police contexts (Police Sergeant). US: Used in army, air force, marines, and police contexts. In the US, a police 'sergeant' typically outranks a 'corporal'; in the UK police, there is no corporal rank, so sergeant is the rank above constable.
Connotations
Strong connotations of authority, leadership of a small unit, and frontline management. In both cultures, it implies experience and being 'in the trenches'.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in the US due to larger military/police presence in media. The term is common in news, procedural dramas, and historical contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “sergeant” in a Sentence
Sergeant + [Surname] (as a title/form of address)the sergeant of + [Unit/Precinct]rank of sergeantVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sergeant” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was sergeanted after his exemplary service. (rare, informal)
American English
- (No common verb use.)
adverb
British English
- (No common adverb use.)
American English
- (No common adverb use.)
adjective
British English
- (No common adjective use.)
American English
- (No common adjective use.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used. Metaphorically for a strict middle manager.
Academic
Used in historical, political (e.g., sergeant-at-arms), or sociological texts discussing institutions.
Everyday
When discussing news about police/military, or in address: 'Yes, Sergeant.'
Technical
Precise use in military science, criminology, and organizational hierarchies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sergeant”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sergeant”
- Misspelling as 'sargent' (confusion with the surname).
- Pronouncing the 'g' as /g/ (as in 'get') instead of /dʒ/ (as in 'judge').
- Using as a general term for any officer.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The pronunciation comes from the Old French 'sergent', which entered Middle English. The 'g' softened before the front vowel 'e'. The spelling retained the 'g' from the original Latin 'serviens' (serving).
It is a mid-level supervisory rank. It is senior to privates and corporals but junior to commissioned officers (like lieutenants and captains) and higher non-commissioned officers (like sergeant majors).
In UK and some US police forces, a 'Sergeant' typically supervises uniformed officers. A 'Detective Sergeant' (DS) holds the same rank but works within a detective unit, supervising investigators on specific cases.
Very rarely and informally (e.g., 'to be sergeanted'). It is not standard. The word is almost exclusively a noun.
A non-commissioned officer in an army or air force, ranking above a corporal and below a warrant officer.
Sergeant is usually formal; official, legal, military, police in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “sergeant major voice (a very loud, commanding tone)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SERGEANT wearing a large, conspicuous SASH and a BADGE (both containing the 'S' and 'G' sounds).
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS RANK / DISCIPLINE IS MILITARY ORDER (e.g., 'He ran the kitchen like a drill sergeant').
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the word 'sergeant' LEAST likely to be used correctly?