vice admiral
noun
: a commissioned officer in the navy or coast guard who ranks above a rear admiral and whose insignia is three stars
Examples of vice admiral in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
His father, Henry Kitson, was a vice admiral in the British Navy; his mother, Marjorie (de Pass) Kitson, was the daughter of a wealthy sugar and coffee importer.
—
Clay Risen, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024
He was nominated in January to become vice admiral in command of the 7th Fleet, based in Japan.
—Nick Anderson The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 25 Nov. 2023
President Biden nominated Rear Adm. Yvette M. Davids on April 20 for promotion to vice admiral, and she was scheduled to take the helm over the summer at the academy in Maryland.
—Nick Anderson The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 25 Nov. 2023
James Stockdale's at 1992 debate United States Navy vice admiral James Stockdale ran as the Independent candidate with H. Ross Perot at the vice presidential debate in Atlanta on Oct 12, 1992.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 24 Aug. 2023
She also was nominated to become a vice admiral.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2023
The third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Prince Andrew served in the Royal Navy for many years, including during the Falklands War in 1982, and holds the ranks of commander and vice admiral.
—Emma Dibdin, Town & Country, 1 June 2022
One became a vice admiral in the Chinese Navy.
—Susan Dunne, Hartford Courant, 31 Oct. 2022
One photo — the photo — showed a Navy vice admiral and a smartly dressed woman cutting a cake as another uniformed officer looked on.
—Washington Post, 3 Aug. 2021
Clay Risen, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024
He was nominated in January to become vice admiral in command of the 7th Fleet, based in Japan.
—Nick Anderson The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 25 Nov. 2023
President Biden nominated Rear Adm. Yvette M. Davids on April 20 for promotion to vice admiral, and she was scheduled to take the helm over the summer at the academy in Maryland.
—Nick Anderson The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 25 Nov. 2023
James Stockdale's at 1992 debate United States Navy vice admiral James Stockdale ran as the Independent candidate with H. Ross Perot at the vice presidential debate in Atlanta on Oct 12, 1992.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 24 Aug. 2023
She also was nominated to become a vice admiral.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2023
The third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Prince Andrew served in the Royal Navy for many years, including during the Falklands War in 1982, and holds the ranks of commander and vice admiral.
—Emma Dibdin, Town & Country, 1 June 2022
One became a vice admiral in the Chinese Navy.
—Susan Dunne, Hartford Courant, 31 Oct. 2022
One photo — the photo — showed a Navy vice admiral and a smartly dressed woman cutting a cake as another uniformed officer looked on.
—Washington Post, 3 Aug. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vice admiral.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle French visamiral, from vis- vice- + amiral admiral
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of vice admiral was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near vice admiral
Cite this Entry
“Vice admiral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vice%20admiral. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
vice admiral
noun
: a naval commissioned officer with a rank just below that of admiral
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