sergeant

B2 Topic:War & Conflict

Also spelled serjeant

US /ˈsɑɹ.d͡ʒənt/ UK /ˈsɑː.d͡ʒənt/ See IPA manual

Freq #1228

Meanings

1

noun
The highest rank of noncommissioned officer in some non-naval military forces and police.

“Yes, there are two distinct sets of footprints, both wearing rubber shoes—one I think ordinary plimsolls, the other goloshes,” replied the sergeant.
2

noun
A lawyer of the highest rank, equivalent to the doctor of civil law.

All other sergeants and barristers indiscriminately (except in the Court of Common Pleas, where only sergeants are admitted) may take upon them the protection and defense of any suitors.
3

noun
A title sometimes given to the servants of the sovereign.

Sergeant surgeon, i.e. a servant, or attendant, surgeon.
4

noun
a lawman with the rank of sergeant

Thesaurus

Synonyms

4 noun · a lawman with the rank of... police sergeant

Word family

Forms Serjeants

Derived forms sargesergeant-at-armssergeant-majorsergeant-majorlysergeantesssergeantrysergeantshipunder-sergeant

Related forms sargeantsargent

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

gunnery sergeant
a marine noncommissioned officer with a rank above staff sergeant

Noun + noun
orderly sergeant
a company's first sergeant, historically responsible for passing on orders

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Sergeant came into Middle English from Old French sergent and ultimately from Latin servire, meaning “to serve.” It first meant an attendant, servant, or common soldier and was later applied to specific official roles. The Middle English variant serjeant is commonly used in legal contexts.

Etymology

From Middle English sergeant, sergeaunt, serjent, serjaunt, serjawnt, sergant, from Old French sergeant, sergent, serjant, sergient, sergant (“sergeant, servant”), from Medieval Latin servientem, accusative of serviēns (“a servant, vassal, soldier, apparitor”), from Latin serviēns (“serving”), present participle of serviō (“serve, be a slave to”). Doublet of servant and servient. The shift from /vj/ > /dʒ/ was a regular development in Old French. Compare cavea > cage, salvia > sage. The fish is so called because of its stripes, supposed to resemble a sergeant's insignia of rank. The pronunciat...

Topics

War & Conflict

External links

# sergeant

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈsɑɹ.d͡ʒənt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsɑː.d͡ʒənt/
**Frequency rank:** 1228

## Meanings
1. The highest rank of noncommissioned officer in some non-naval military forces and police.
2. A lawyer of the highest rank, equivalent to the doctor of civil law.
3. A title sometimes given to the servants of the sovereign.
4. a lawman with the rank of sergeant

## Examples
- “Yes, there are two distinct sets of footprints, both wearing rubber shoes—one I think ordinary plimsolls, the other goloshes,” replied the sergeant.
- All other sergeants and barristers indiscriminately (except in the Court of Common Pleas, where only sergeants are admitted) may take upon them the protection and defense of any suitors.
- Sergeant surgeon, i.e. a servant, or attendant, surgeon.

## Derived Forms
- sarge
- sergeant-at-arms
- sergeant-major
- sergeant-majorly
- sergeantess
- sergeantry
- sergeantship
- under-sergeant

## Related Forms
- sargeant
- sargent

## Etymology
From Middle English sergeant, sergeaunt, serjent, serjaunt, serjawnt, sergant, from Old French sergeant, sergent, serjant, sergient, sergant (“sergeant, servant”), from Medieval Latin servientem, accusative of serviēns (“a servant, vassal, soldier, apparitor”), from Latin serviēns (“serving”), present participle of serviō (“serve, be a slave to”). Doublet of servant and servient. The shift from /vj/ > /dʒ/ was a regular development in Old French. Compare cavea > cage, salvia > sage. The fish is so called because of its stripes, supposed to resemble a sergeant's insignia of rank. The pronunciat...

## Topics
- War & Conflict

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