sergeant major
noun
plural sergeants major or sergeant majors
1
: a noncommissioned officer in the army or marine corps serving as chief administrative assistant in a headquarters
2
: a noncommissioned officer in the marine corps ranking above a first sergeant
3
: a bluish-green to yellow bony fish (Abudefduf saxatilis of the family Pomacentridae) with black vertical stripes on the sides that is widely distributed in the western tropical Atlantic Ocean
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web While Ernest was overseas fighting in the Second World War, Rose had an affair with another soldier, David McEwan, a sergeant major who’d been wounded at Dunkirk. 
Adam Begley, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2022 In 2020, after explosives and S.S. memorabilia were found on the property of a sergeant major, an entire KSK unit was disbanded by the defense minister. New York Times, 15 July 2022 An elder among the recruits, Freeman’s John Rawlins is soon promoted to the rank of sergeant major. Ben Flanagan | Bflanagan@al.com, al, 1 June 2022 Twice in full view of the enemy, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound sergeant major scaled a wall to draw fire and expose the North Vietnamese positions. Sam Roberts, New York Times, 18 May 2022 The sergeant major is an advisor to the commanding general of the Marine Expeditionary Force. Andrew Dyer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2022 There was the former Delta Force sergeant major Kyle Lamb, who helped to popularize another wave of military-style rifles (this time in black). Benjamin Wallace-wells, The New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2021 For his actions, he was promoted to sergeant major and awarded the Medal of Honor. Nicole Chavez, CNN, 25 Oct. 2021 Once colonized, the new reef is expected to attract fish species like those that currently exist in the area, including sergeant major, parrotfish, bar jack, spottail pinfish, molly miller and more. Gary Curreri, sun-sentinel.com, 16 Sep. 2021 See More
Adam Begley, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2022 In 2020, after explosives and S.S. memorabilia were found on the property of a sergeant major, an entire KSK unit was disbanded by the defense minister. New York Times, 15 July 2022 An elder among the recruits, Freeman’s John Rawlins is soon promoted to the rank of sergeant major. Ben Flanagan | Bflanagan@al.com, al, 1 June 2022 Twice in full view of the enemy, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound sergeant major scaled a wall to draw fire and expose the North Vietnamese positions. Sam Roberts, New York Times, 18 May 2022 The sergeant major is an advisor to the commanding general of the Marine Expeditionary Force. Andrew Dyer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2022 There was the former Delta Force sergeant major Kyle Lamb, who helped to popularize another wave of military-style rifles (this time in black). Benjamin Wallace-wells, The New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2021 For his actions, he was promoted to sergeant major and awarded the Medal of Honor. Nicole Chavez, CNN, 25 Oct. 2021 Once colonized, the new reef is expected to attract fish species like those that currently exist in the area, including sergeant major, parrotfish, bar jack, spottail pinfish, molly miller and more. Gary Curreri, sun-sentinel.com, 16 Sep. 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
1797, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
sergeant major
noun
1
: the chief noncommissioned officer at a military headquarters
2
: a noncommissioned officer in the marine corps ranking above a first sergeant