First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
sergeant
noun ser·geant \ˈsär-jənt\
: an officer of low rank in the army or marines
: an officer in a police force with a rank below captain or lieutenant
Full Definition of SERGEANT
1
2
obsolete : an officer who enforces the judgments of a court or the commands of one in authority
3
: a noncommissioned officer ranking in the army and marine corps above a corporal and below a staff sergeant; broadly : noncommissioned officer
4
: an officer in a police force ranking in the United States just below captain or sometimes lieutenant and in England just below inspector
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Origin of SERGEANT
Middle English, servant, attendant, sergeant, from Anglo-French sergant, serjant, from Latin servient-, serviens, present participle of servire to serve
SERGEANT Defined for Kids
sergeant
noun ser·geant \ˈsär-jənt\
Definition of SERGEANT for Kids
1
: a noncommissioned officer in the army or marine corps ranking above a corporal or in the air force ranking above an airman first class
2
: an officer in a police force
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