non-com

A non-com leads a squad during a morning drill.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Non-commissioned officer (abbreviation): "non-com" is an informal abbreviation for a non-commissioned officer, a military rank attained by promotion from the enlisted ranks, such as sergeant or corporal.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The non-com gave the squad their orders for the day. (A non-commissioned officer issued commands to the group.)
  • He was promoted to non-com after five years of service. (He became a non-commissioned officer.)

Advanced Usage

• "non-com" in military jargon: Used in informal or spoken contexts to refer to a non-commissioned officer without specifying the exact rank.
  • The non-coms are responsible for training new recruits. (Non-commissioned officers handle basic training duties.)

Variants and Related Words

• NCO (abbreviation): a more formal abbreviation for "non-commissioned officer."

  • The NCO led the patrol through the forest. (The non-commissioned officer guided the mission.)

• Non-commissioned officer (full term): a military rank below commissioned officers but above enlisted personnel.

  • Non-commissioned officers often have years of experience. (They hold authority over lower ranks.)

Synonyms

• Sergeant: a specific rank of non-commissioned officer.
• Corporal: a lower rank of non-commissioned officer.
• Petty officer: a non-commissioned rank in naval forces.

Related Idioms

• "Non-com's privilege": (informal) the informal authority or perks enjoyed by non-commissioned officers.
  • The non-com's privilege meant he could skip the early morning roll call. (He had a special benefit due to his rank.)