sergeant first class

noun

: a noncommissioned officer in the army ranking above a staff sergeant and below a master sergeant

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Jared, who was promoted from staff sergeant to sergeant first class posthumously, also had been awarded the Bronze Star for valor and the Purple Heart. Bryan Marquard, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Aug. 2022 Arthur Kennedy entered service in the U.S. Army in 1994 and retired in 2020 with rank of sergeant first class. Mike Cason | Mcason@al.com, al, 20 May 2022 The organization said McMillan was a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Army and achieved the rank of sergeant first class. Jason Duaine Hahn, PEOPLE.com, 13 Apr. 2022 Jeric Poblete's dad is a sergeant first class at Fort Drum. Heather Ainsworth For Cnn, CNN, 19 Mar. 2022 Brian Stermer, a sergeant first class in the Army Reserves, is one of the plaintiffs. Karen Kaplan Science And Medicine Editor, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2022 The retired Army sergeant first class and Shadow are one of nearly 700 warrior-K9 teams that have graduated from a three-week training program. Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News, 11 Oct. 2021 When the camp came under attack by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong, Adkins, who was a sergeant first class at the time, rushed through intense fire and manned a mortar position. Mike Cason | Mcason@al.com, al, 9 July 2021 The sergeant first class and his soldiers had worn masks during their shift, only to be screamed at by a protester for supposedly hiding their identities. Trent Reedy, Washington Examiner, 25 Feb. 2021 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sergeant first class was in 1948

Dictionary Entries Near sergeant first class

Cite this Entry

“Sergeant first class.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sergeant%20first%20class. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

sergeant first class

noun
: an enlisted person in the army with a rank just below that of master sergeant
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