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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See all Example Sentences for major general 

Word History

Etymology

French major général, from major, noun + général, adjective, general

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of major general was in 1633

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

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