adjutant

noun

ad·​ju·​tant ˈa-jə-tənt 

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

Synonyms

• assistant
• aide
• deputy
• apprentice
• aid
• lieutenant

Examples of adjutant in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

At the time, there were an estimated 450 greater adjutant storks left in the region. —Kyla Mandel, TIME, 20 Feb. 2025

Since 2019, when Woodward took over as the Gooding adjutant, that totals more than $23,000, according to an accounting obtained by the Statesman from the county clerk through a public records request. —Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 13 July 2024

Whereas until recently political elites had a degree of decision-making power, the war has made them into the executors of Putin’s will, mere adjutants to the generalissimo. —Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 13 Mar. 2024

His first innovation, suggested by the director and Factory adjutant Paul Morrissey, was to add the German chanteuse Nico to the Velvets’ lineup. —Jeremy Lybarger, The New Republic, 17 Oct. 2023

Word History

Etymology

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 aid entry 1

First Known Use

1539, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing adjutant

• adjutant general

Kids Definition

adjutant

noun

ad·​ju·​tant ˈaj-ət-ənt 

1

: an officer (as in the army) who assists the commanding officer in clerical work

2

: assistant