Definition

Noun A member of the military who holds a rank below that of a commissioned officer (such as a lieutenant or captain). Enlisted persons form the majority of a military's personnel and perform the essential specialized and technical duties.

Usage

The term "enlisted person" refers to an individual soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is not an officer. It is a formal, general term.

Examples: * The training program is designed for every enlisted person. * An enlisted person must follow the lawful orders of a commissioned officer. * He began his career as an enlisted person before attending officer candidate school.

Advanced Usage

• "Enlisted personnel": This is the standard collective plural form used to refer to the group or body of all such individuals.
  • The new policy affects all enlisted personnel in the army.

Variants and Related Words

• Enlistee (noun): A person who has enlisted in the armed forces. This term often emphasizes the act of voluntary joining.
  • The new enlistees arrived at the base for basic training.
• Enlisted man / Enlisted woman (noun): Gender-specific terms that are now often replaced by the gender-neutral "enlisted person" or "enlisted member."
• Non-commissioned officer (NCO) (noun): A specific type of enlisted person who has been given authority over other enlisted personnel (e.g., sergeant, petty officer).

Synonyms

• Serviceman/Servicewoman: A general term for a member of the armed forces.
• Troop: Often used in the plural ("troops") to refer to soldiers collectively.
• Enlisted member: A common alternative with identical meaning.

Antonyms

• Commissioned officer: A military officer who holds a commission and a leadership rank (e.g., general, colonel, captain).
• Officer: The general term for a person holding a position of authority and command in the military.

Noun

1. a serviceman who ranks below a commissioned officer