generalissimo
/,dʤenərə'lisimou/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A supreme military commander: A "generalissimo" is the officer who holds the supreme command over all the armed forces of a nation or a large military force, especially in times of war or during a military regime.
Usage and Examples
- Noun:
- The generalissimo directed the campaign from his heavily fortified headquarters.
- Historically, the title of generalissimo was often bestowed upon leaders who consolidated both political and military power.
Advanced Usage
- The term "generalissimo" often implies a concentration of absolute military authority and is historically associated with certain regimes or historical periods. It is not a standard rank in modern Western militaries.
- The aging generalissimo refused to relinquish control of the army.
Variants and Related Words
- Commander-in-chief (noun): A more common modern term for the supreme commander of a nation's military forces, often a civilian head of state.
- In the United States, the president is the commander-in-chief.
Synonyms
- Supreme commander
- Commander-in-chief (in a national context)
Notes on Meaning
- While "generalissimo" and "commander-in-chief" can be synonyms in the sense of a supreme military leader, "generalissimo" typically carries a more autocratic, historical, or non-democratic connotation. "Commander-in-chief" is a standard constitutional role in many countries.
Noun
- the officer who holds the supreme command
- in the U.S. the president is the commander in chief