sergeant
sergeant — noun
1. a non-commissioned soldier who holds a middle rank in the military, responsible
a non-commissioned soldier who holds a middle rank in the military, responsible for leading a small group of lower-ranking soldiers and carrying out orders from commissioned officers.
Jabari was promoted to sergeant after three years of service in the infantry unit.
promoted to sergeant — rank advancement context
The drill sergeant shouted instructions at the new recruits on the training ground.
drill sergeant — specific training role
As a sergeant, Mathieu checked each soldier's pack before the overnight march.
Minh reported to the sergeant for the evening patrol assignment.
- corporal
lower rank than sergeant, typically the step below before promotion
- staff sergeant
higher rank than sergeant in many forces
- NCO
broad category covering sergeants and other non-commissioned ranks
用法筆記
In most military forces, a sergeant is a non-commissioned officer (NCO) ranking above corporal and below staff sergeant. The specific duties vary by branch but typically include supervising small teams and maintaining discipline.
常見錯誤
2. a police officer who holds a rank above a regular officer and below a captain or
a police officer who holds a rank above a regular officer and below a captain or inspector, often responsible for supervising a small team of officers or managing a station during a shift.
Sergeant Harper arrived at the scene to take charge of the investigation.
Sergeant + surname — common form of address
The night-shift sergeant reviewed every officer's report before the morning handover.
Lucía worked as a police sergeant in Manchester, supervising eight constables on her team.
Emre asked the desk sergeant about his lost documents at the station.
Sahil studied for the sergeant promotion exam while working night shifts as an officer.
- corporal
used in some US police departments as an equivalent rank to sergeant
用法筆記
In the UK and many Commonwealth countries, a police sergeant ranks above constable and below inspector. In the US, a police sergeant ranks above officer and below captain or lieutenant. The core job is similar — supervising other officers — but the rank titles above and below differ by country. Americans typically address a sergeant as 'Sergeant [surname]', while Britons often use just 'Sergeant' or 'Sarge' informally.