Warning
Info
Warning
Info
Simple English definitions for legal terms
sergeant
Read a random definition: suppletory oath
A quick definition of sergeant:
Sergeant: A person who holds a position of authority in the military or police force. They are not a knight, but they may hold lands by serving in the military. In the armed forces, a sergeant is a noncommissioned officer who ranks above a corporal. In the police force, a sergeant is an officer who ranks below a captain or lieutenant.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: A sergeant is a noncommissioned officer in the armed forces who ranks above a corporal. They are also an officer in the police force who ranks below a captain or lieutenant. In history, a sergeant could also be:
- A person who held lands by tenure of military service but was not a knight.
- A municipal officer who performed duties for the Crown.
- A bailiff.
- A sergeant-at-arms.
Examples:
- John was promoted to sergeant after serving as a corporal for two years in the army.
- The police sergeant was in charge of the investigation into the robbery.
- In medieval times, a sergeant was a person who held lands by tenure of military service but was not a knight.
The first two examples illustrate the modern usage of the term "sergeant" in the armed forces and police force. The third example shows how the term was used historically to refer to a person who held lands by tenure of military service but was not a knight. This definition is no longer in use today.