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senior master sergeant

senior master sergeant

6.7
A high Air Force rank for senior enlisted members above master sergeant and below chief master sergeant
  • noun
  • /ˈsiː.njər ˈmæs.tər ˈsɜːr.dʒənt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : sargento mayor
  • The senior master sergeant trained the new recruits on essential military protocols.

Examples

  • After years of service, she achieved the rank of senior master sergeant in the Air Force.

  • Since my father was a Senior Master Sergeant in the USAF, we lived in the base housing.

    Blog text (1)
  • As a senior master sergeant, he played a crucial role in organizing the base's logistics and operations.

Synonyms

SMSgt
vssenior master sergeant
  • Jargon
8.9

A senior rank in the U.S. Air Force for experienced members who are not officers

is the full written form rather than the short abbreviation

Antonyms

master sergeant
  • Specialized
7 6.0

A senior military rank in the Army or Marines above sergeant and below sergeant major

How Senior

command sergeant major
  • Specialized
1 6.8
senior master sergeant
  • Specialized
6.7
master sergeant
  • Specialized
7 6.0
technical sergeant
  • Formal
1 4.0
staff sergeant
  • Specialized
14 3.5

Surface Forms

Morphology

senior + master + sergeant

The phrase is compositional: 'senior' (higher), 'master' (a higher-level modifier) and 'sergeant' (a military rank) combine to indicate a higher-ranking sergeant. While exact placement in the U.S. Air Force hierarchy is specific knowledge, a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will understand it denotes a high noncommissioned officer rank.

Etymology

Senior master sergeant comes from putting senior, meaning more experienced, before master sergeant, a high enlisted rank. So the name shows a more experienced 'master sergeant' with extra leadership, which is why it is above 'master sergeant' and below 'chief master sergeant'.