colonel

en
en
Change language
Translating...
Find language
العربية الفصحى
Arabic (Standard)
Deutsch
German
Español
Spanish
Français
French
हिन्दी
Hindi
/ˈkɝːnəl/
Add to My Dictionary
In My Dictionary
+1
A senior commissioned officer rank, with a separate use as an honorary or courtesy title in Kentucky and related American civic traditions.
Practice using colonel in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • The governor commissioned her as a Kentucky Colonel.
  • The title Kentucky Colonel is a civilian honor, not an army commission.
  • A colonel ranks below a brigadier general in the U.S. Army.
  • The colonel inspected the regiment at dawn.
  • After years as a lieutenant colonel, she was promoted to colonel.

Similar words

senior officer
honorary title
O-6 officer
courtesy title
honorific
full colonel
field-grade officer
civic title

Meanings

Senior commissioned officer rank

noun
military
neutral
A senior commissioned officer rank, usually above lieutenant colonel and below brigadier general in armies, air forces, marine corps, and comparable services.

Examples

  • General Harper met Colonel Davis before the briefing.
  • The colonel took command of the brigade in June.
  • After years as a lieutenant colonel, she was promoted to colonel.
  • The report was signed by Col. Martin.
  • A colonel ranks below a brigadier general in the U.S. Army.
  • Several colonels attended the planning meeting.
  • The colonel inspected the regiment at dawn.

Similar words

full colonel
O-6 officer
field-grade officer
senior officer

Honorary or courtesy title

noun
culture
neutral
An honorary or courtesy title, especially in Kentucky and parts of the southern or midland United States, used for civic honor, public standing, or local respect rather than active military command.

Examples

  • The governor commissioned her as a Kentucky Colonel.
  • Colonel Sanders turned the title into part of his public name.
  • Everyone at the courthouse called him Colonel out of habit.
  • The certificate named him an honorary colonel of the state.
  • Guests addressed the retired community leader as Colonel.
  • The title Kentucky Colonel is a civilian honor, not an army commission.
  • She wrote to Colonel Brooks to thank him for the donation.

Similar words

honorific
courtesy title
civic title
honorary title

Etymology

From earlier English coronel, borrowed from French coronel, itself reshaped from Italian colonnello, a leader of a column of soldiers, from Latin columna, meaning column.

FAQ

What does colonel mean?

Colonel usually means a senior commissioned officer rank, and it can also be an honorary or courtesy title.

How is colonel pronounced?

Colonel is pronounced like kernel, despite its spelling.

What rank is a colonel?

A colonel is commonly above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general, or equivalent to a naval captain in U.S. rank order.

Should colonel be capitalized?

Capitalize Colonel before a name or as a direct form of address, but use lowercase for the common noun.

Is a Kentucky Colonel a military rank?

No. A Kentucky Colonel is an honorary civilian title awarded by the Governor of Kentucky.

Can colonel be used as a verb?

No. Colonel is a noun, so forms such as coloneled are mistakes.

Where does colonel come from?

Colonel comes through French and Italian from a word for a column of soldiers, which explains the spelling more than the modern pronunciation.

Comments & contributions

Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
Posting as a guest · Sign in
No comments yet. Be the first to add one.
Look up word or phrase...