sergeant major

noun

plural sergeants major or sergeant majors
1
: a noncommissioned officer in the army or marine corps serving as chief administrative assistant in a headquarters
2
: a noncommissioned officer in the marine corps ranking above a first sergeant
3
: a bluish-green to yellow bony fish (Abudefduf saxatilis of the family Pomacentridae) with black vertical stripes on the sides that is widely distributed in the western tropical Atlantic Ocean

Examples of sergeant major in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Armentrout, a sergeant major who has served in the Marines for over 20 years and is based in Japan, has been trained to be vigilant. Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 27 May 2025 Powell got his from chaplains, sergeants major, inspectors general, and normal soldiers. George Bradt, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025 Wright, a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, joined the Police Department following his retirement as a Marine sergeant major — with three combat tours, one in Afghanistan and two in Iraq — as the oldest recruit in his police academy class. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025 Dramatic sergeant major fish, angelfish, pipefish and flying gurnards share the water with charming manatees, elegant spotted eagle rays and green sea turtles. John Oseid, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sergeant major

Word History

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sergeant major was in 1797

Cite this Entry

“Sergeant major.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sergeant%20major. Accessed 8 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

sergeant major

noun
plural sergeants major or sergeant majors
1
: a noncommissioned officer (as in the army) serving as chief enlisted assistant in a headquarters
2
: an enlisted person of the highest rank in the army or marines
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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