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chief petty officer

noun

: an enlisted sailor or mariner in the navy or coast guard ranking above a petty officer first class and below a senior chief petty officer

Examples of chief petty officer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Grambo is a former chief petty officer who served in the Navy for 20 years. Adam Thompson, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025 Feller participated in combat operations in the Pacific and European theaters while serving as a chief petty officer aboard the USS Alabama. Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025 The ship was renamed the USNS Oscar V. Peterson to honor a World War II chief petty officer who was awarded a Medal of Honor. Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 4 Aug. 2025 This is a problem currently for Shae Anderson, another military spouse of a Navy chief petty officer, also located in San Diego. Steve Osunsami, ABC News, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for chief petty officer

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chief petty officer was in 1865

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Cite this Entry

“Chief petty officer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chief%20petty%20officer. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

chief petty officer

noun
: a naval petty officer with a rank just below that of senior chief petty officer
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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