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

Florida health policy on vaccine mandates One of the first choices awaiting the new governor will be whom to appoint as Florida surgeon general, a position created in 2007. — Liv Coleman, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2026

Casey Means was nominated for surgeon general, but that nomination was pulled after senators expressed concern with her lack of medical experience. — Chelsea Cirruzzo, STAT, 22 Oct. 2026

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

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