common soldier
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- An enlisted military personnel of the lowest rank: A "common soldier" refers to a person serving in an army or marines who holds the most junior enlisted rank, such as a private. This term emphasizes the individual's ordinary status within the military hierarchy, distinct from officers or non-commissioned officers with command authority.
Usage and Examples
- Noun:
- In historical accounts, the life of the common soldier was often harsh and poorly documented.
- The general's strategy relied on the courage and discipline of every common soldier.
- He was not an officer but a common soldier who followed orders.
Advanced Usage
- The term can be used metaphorically to describe someone who performs essential but often unrecognized work within an organization or cause.
- In the fight for social justice, she considered herself just a common soldier, doing the groundwork.
Variants and Related Words
- Private (n): The specific rank title for a common soldier in many armies.
- He enlisted and was quickly promoted from private to corporal.
- Enlisted man/woman/person (n): A broader term for military personnel who are not commissioned officers.
- The ceremony honored both officers and enlisted personnel.
- Grunt (n, informal): A slang term, sometimes derogatory, for an infantryman or common soldier.
- The grunts bore the brunt of the fighting.
Synonyms
- Foot soldier: Literally a soldier who fights on foot; often used similarly to emphasize a low-ranking, frontline role.
- Rank and file: Refers to the ordinary members of a group, especially in military or organizational contexts.
- Trooper: Can refer to a soldier in a cavalry unit or, more generally, a steadfast individual.
Notes on Meaning
- The term "common soldier" specifically highlights the non-officer status and the collective, typical experience of soldiers at the lowest level. It often carries connotations of anonymity, carrying out orders, and being part of a large group rather than making individual strategic decisions. It is not typically used as an official military title but as a descriptive category.
Noun
- an enlisted man of the lowest rank in the Army or Marines
- our prisoner was just a private and knew nothing of value