adjutant

noun ad·ju·tant \ ˈa-jə-tənt \

Updated on: 11 Mar 2018

Definition of adjutant

1 : a staff officer in the army, air force, or marine corps who assists the commanding officer and is responsible especially for correspondence

2 : one who helps : assistant

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Examples of adjutant in a Sentence

the senator's adjutants and aides always arrive ahead of him on the campaign trail

Recent Examples of adjutant from the Web

The accusations mark a dramatic fall for Gourdikian, once a top-ranking official for the Pasadena Police Department and adjutant to Chief Phillip L. Sanchez.

— matt hamilton, latimes.com, "Feds charge former Pasadena police spokesman with illegally selling more than 100 guns," 3 Mar. 2018
Along with Gero, other chairmen were Lynn McGinnis, Post 288 judge advocate; and Mike Baldwin, Post 288 adjutant and Post 1614 member.

— ruth sowby, Glendale News-Press, "On the Town: Bingo night sells out, raises funds for veterans’ programs," 29 Aug. 2017
Sayler, appointed adjutant general by Gov. Butch Otter in 2010, is responsible for overseeing of all units of the Idaho National Guard.

— cynthia sewell, idahostatesman, "He’s spent 40 years with the Idaho Guard. Now, he’ll say goodbye.," 10 Aug. 2017
Gen. John Harris, assistant adjutant general for the Ohio Army National Guard, also attended Monday's briefing.

— brian albrecht, cleveland.com, "Local Ohio National Guard units demolish houses in Youngstown (photos, video)," 20 July 2017
Marie Smith, adjutant of the North San Diego Young Marines group, was recognized for her efforts mentoring and teaching youths in the nonprofit’s leadership program.

— linda mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "O'side woman picked for national award," 21 June 2017
The Flag Day program at the VFW has been a tradition for more than 30 years, said Ryan Kominakis, the post's adjutant and chair of the program.

— amy lavalley, Post-Tribune, "VFW members, friends gather for Flag Day service," 15 June 2017
Gen. David Hamlar, assistant adjutant general for the Minnesota Air National Guard.

— deb mazzocco, Twin Cities, "Here are Twin Cities Memorial Day 2017 events," 26 May 2017
Joseph Chiodo selected Katie Malchow's for top honor, said Tom Lynch, the post's adjutant.

— kimberly fornek, chicagotribune.com, "Marching bands, Scouts and veterans set for Hinsdale Memorial Day observances," 23 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'adjutant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of adjutant

borrowed from Latin adjūtant-, adjūtans, present participle of adjūtāre "to help," probably after Spanish ayudante "assistant, aide, officer appointed as an aide" (noun derivative of present participle of ayudar "to help, aid," going back to Latin adjūtāre) — more at ¹aid

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1539

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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