surgeon general

noun

plural surgeons general

: the chief medical officer of a branch of the armed services or of a public health service

Examples of surgeon general in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The surgeon general position carries limited policymaking power but serves as a loud megaphone as the nation's top communicator to Americans on public health issues. — Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026

The surgeon general has limited policymaking authority but serves as the nation’s leading public health communicator amid growing disputes over federal vaccine guidance. — Fatima Hussein, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

The surgeon general typically acts as the nation’s top public health educator and is expected to communicate information on how to stay healthy. — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2026

The surgeon general's 2023 advisory found roughly half of adults experience loneliness, and the Survey Center on American Life reports 44% have nowhere in their community to go regularly. — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1706, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

surgeon general

noun

plural surgeons general

: the chief medical officer of a branch of the armed services or of a public health service

Medical Definition

surgeon general

noun

plural surgeons general

: the chief medical officer of a branch of the armed services or of a public health service