sergeant-major

A sergeant-major inspects a row of soldiers on the parade ground.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Military rank: A "sergeant-major" is a senior non-commissioned officer (NCO) in many armed forces, ranking above a sergeant and often serving as the principal assistant to a commanding officer in matters of discipline and administration.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The sergeant-major inspected the troops for any uniform violations. (The senior NCO checked the soldiers' appearance.)
  • He was promoted to sergeant-major after twenty years of dedicated service. (He received the higher rank due to long service.)

Advanced Usage

• "Regimental Sergeant-Major" (RSM): The most senior sergeant-major in a regiment, responsible for overall discipline and standards.

  • The regimental sergeant-major bellowed orders across the parade ground. (The top NCO commanded loudly.)

• "Company Sergeant-Major" (CSM): The senior NCO of a company, reporting to the company commander.

  • The company sergeant-major organized the daily training schedule. (He managed the unit's activities.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sergeant (n): a non-commissioned officer ranking below sergeant-major.

  • The sergeant led the squad on patrol. (A lower-ranking NCO.)

• Major (n): a commissioned officer rank above captain, not directly related to sergeant-major.

  • The major commanded the battalion. (A higher-ranking officer.)

Synonyms

• Senior NCO: a high-ranking non-commissioned officer.
• Warrant officer: in some military systems, a rank similar to sergeant-major (e.g., in the U.S. Army).

Phrasal Verbs

Related Idioms

• "To be the sergeant-major's pet": to be a soldier who is overly favored by the senior NCO, often implying special treatment.

  • He always gets the easiest duties because he's the sergeant-major's pet. (He receives unfair advantages.)

• "As strict as a sergeant-major": extremely strict or demanding in discipline.

  • The new coach is as strict as a sergeant-major about punctuality. (The coach is very firm.)