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cadet

cadet

318 3.9
A young person training to become an officer in the armed forces
  • noun
  • /kəˈdɛt/
translation icon : cadete
  • I give talks to various athletic teams and various groups of cadets within the organisational structure of West Point.
  • officer cadet
  • join the cadets
  • enlist as a cadet

If you got in as a cadet, you took a five year course.

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Examples

  • He was a cadet when he conceived of the idea at the Royal Air College.

  • Right now, America needs a class of cadets that lives by your motto with vision we lead.

  • If you got in as a cadet, you took a five year course.

  • Again, he apparently got training and, you know, the the military cadet program.

  • For example, teacher cadet programs require volunteer hours in local schools to receive credit.

    Academic text (2015)
  • The differential funding and support available to cadet units have had a significant impact on their effectiveness.

    Academic text (1995)
  • During the day, they would march the cadets to and from classes and to lunch.

    Academic text (2015)
  • School-based units are a legacy of the British system of cadet corps, based on private schools.

    Academic text (1995)
  • There are 63 NRC units, with just over 2,900 cadets, of three types.

    Academic text (1995)
  • During the day, they would march the cadets to and from classes and to lunch.

Synonyms

midshipman
vscadet
  • Specialized
15 8.4

A young officer in the navy who is training to work at sea

is wider, applying to trainees across all armed services
middy
vscadet
  • Archaic
9.6

A young person training to be an officer in the navy

is the formal broader term for trainees across services

Compounds

space cadet
  • Offensive
1 8.6

A person who often daydreams and does not pay attention

How Senior

lieutenant
  • Specialized
614 5.8
sublieutenant
  • UK
1 9.6
midshipman
  • Specialized
15 8.4
cadet
318 3.9

Surface Forms

cadet singular
cadets plural

Etymology

Cadet comes from French and an old local word that meant 'little head' or 'young leader', from the Latin caput 'head' and the same root as captain. It first meant a 'younger son' who often left home to join the army, so today a cadet is a young person training to be an officer.