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major general
noun
: a commissioned officer in the army, air force, or marine corps who ranks above a brigadier general and whose insignia is two stars
Examples of major general in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
It's named for a major general during the American Revolution.
—Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 27 Oct. 2024
Xi has also remained heavily involved in military appointments, reportedly weighing in on promotions down to the rank of major general.
—Joel Wuthnow, Foreign Affairs, 26 Sep. 2023
His father, Lars, the son of a Swedish army veteran, was a pilot and a major general in the U.S. Air Force who went on to work for Pan American Airways.
—Stephen L. Betts, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2024
The public face of the proposal is Eiland, who had an illustrious career rising to the rank of major general and serving as head of the prime minister’s National Security Council from 2004 to 2006.
—Mick Krever, CNN, 22 Sep. 2024
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Word History
Etymology
French major général, from major, noun + général, adjective, general
First Known Use
1633, in the meaning defined above
Articles Related to major general
Dictionary Entries Near major general
Cite this Entry
“Major general.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/major%20general. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
major general
noun
: a military commissioned officer with a rank just below that of lieutenant general
More from Merriam-Webster on major general
Nglish: Translation of major general for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about major general
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