sergeant
UK: ˈsɑːdʒənt | US: ˈsɑːrdʒənt
n. a non-commissioned officer in the army or air force, ranking above a corporal
n. a police officer ranking below an inspector
n. (historical) a servant or attendant in a royal or noble household
The word "sergeant" traces back to Latin servientem ("servant"), reflecting its original role as a servant or attendant in medieval households. Over time, it evolved in Old French (sergent) to denote a military or civil officer serving authority. The spelling retained the "ser-" root (from servire), while the "-geant" suffix solidified its noun form. The shift from "servant" to "officer" highlights the word’s progression from domestic service to structured hierarchy in military and law enforcement contexts.
The sergeant drilled the new recruits at dawn.
She was promoted to sergeant after five years on the police force.
In medieval times, a sergeant might manage a noble’s estate.
The sergeant barked orders during the training exercise.
He addressed his concerns to the platoon sergeant.