brigadier

UK/bɹɪɡəˈdɪɚ/US/bɹɪɡəˈdɪɚ/

nounC1Common in everyday speech and writing · #8,210 of 15,258leans written

Other forms: brigadiers

A brigadier is an officer ranking just above a colonel. Promoted to brigadier, the brigadier's staff, a retired brigadier.

In the British army it is the rank that commands a brigade, which is where the name comes from. In America the equivalent is brigadier general, which is the lowest general rank.

Definitions of brigadier

1nounbrigadierAn officer ranking just above a colonel.C1
“A brigadier was sent out to take charge of the withdrawal.”

brigadier is an officer.

Where it comes from

French brigadier comes from brigade, from Italian brigata, a company or troop, from brigare, to fight.

Proto-Indo-European
*gʷreh₂-
French
brigadier
English, today
brigadier

Borrowed from French brigadier. Equivalent to brigade + ier.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practise this word

brigadier in the wild

A brigade's commander is commonly a major general, brigadier general, brigadier or colonel.
Brigade
In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several thousand soldiers.
Brigadier
When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000 troops (two regiments or four battalions).
Brigadier general
In the United States Armed Forces, a brigadier general is a one-star general officer in the United States Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force.
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below a major general.
Brigadier general (United States)

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

Related words

brigade

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